Podcast
Questions and Answers
What term should be used instead of 'wheelchair-bound'?
What term should be used instead of 'wheelchair-bound'?
What term is preferred by most disability activists?
What term is preferred by most disability activists?
What term should be avoided when referring to people with intellectual disabilities?
What term should be avoided when referring to people with intellectual disabilities?
What term should be used instead of 'midget'?
What term should be used instead of 'midget'?
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What term should be avoided when referring to people with mental health conditions?
What term should be avoided when referring to people with mental health conditions?
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What term should be used instead of 'aspie'?
What term should be used instead of 'aspie'?
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What term should be used instead of 'vegetable'?
What term should be used instead of 'vegetable'?
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What term should be avoided when referring to people with seizures?
What term should be avoided when referring to people with seizures?
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What term should be used instead of 'handicapped' when referring to someone with a physical disability?
What term should be used instead of 'handicapped' when referring to someone with a physical disability?
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What term is considered offensive and should be avoided when referring to people with mental health conditions?
What term is considered offensive and should be avoided when referring to people with mental health conditions?
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What term should be used instead of 'deaf-and-dumb' when referring to someone who is deaf or hard of hearing?
What term should be used instead of 'deaf-and-dumb' when referring to someone who is deaf or hard of hearing?
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What term should be avoided when referring to people with autism?
What term should be avoided when referring to people with autism?
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What term is considered offensive and should be avoided when referring to people with intellectual disabilities?
What term is considered offensive and should be avoided when referring to people with intellectual disabilities?
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What term should be used instead of 'special needs' when referring to accommodations?
What term should be used instead of 'special needs' when referring to accommodations?
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What term should be avoided when referring to people with epilepsy?
What term should be avoided when referring to people with epilepsy?
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What term should be used instead of 'normal' when referring to people without disabilities?
What term should be used instead of 'normal' when referring to people without disabilities?
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Study Notes
Language to Avoid in Disability Writing
- Avoid using stigmatizing language when writing or speaking about disability
- Phrases like "wheelchair-bound" and "confined to a wheelchair" are harmful and should be replaced with "wheelchair user"
- Terms like "handicapped", "differently abled", "lame", and "physically challenged" are also harmful and should be avoided
- Using words like "crip", "cripple", or "gimp" can be harmful unless used by someone who self-identifies as such
- Avoid making jokes about speed limits or racing when referring to people with mobility disabilities
Language to Use in Disability Writing
- Use "disabled" or "people with disabilities" (PWDs) to refer to individuals with disabilities
- Use "person with a [specific] disability" to refer to individuals with specific disabilities
- Use "person with a developmental disability" or "person with an intellectual disability" to refer to individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities
- Use "person with Down syndrome" to refer to individuals with Down syndrome
- Use "psychiatric disability" or "person with [specific diagnosis/disability]" to refer to individuals with mental health disabilities
- Use "autistic" or "person with autism" to refer to individuals with autism
- Use "neurodivergent" to refer to individuals with neurodiverse conditions
- Use "deaf" or "hard of hearing" to refer to individuals with hearing impairments
Avoidable Language in Disability Writing
- Avoid using terms like "retarded", "feeble-minded", "slow", "delayed", or "mentally deficient" to refer to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "psychotic", "mad", "crazy", or "demented" to refer to individuals with mental health disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "midget" or "dwarf" to refer to individuals with little personism
- Avoid using terms like "patient" or "vegetable" to refer to individuals with disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "nuthouse" or "loony bin" to refer to institutions or facilities
- Avoid using terms like "normal", "whole", or "able-bodied" to refer to individuals without disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "deaf-and-dumb" or "hearing impaired" to refer to individuals with hearing impairments
- Avoid using terms like "mute" to refer to individuals who do not communicate verbally
- Avoid using terms like "high functioning" or "low functioning" to refer to individuals with autism
- Avoid using terms like "visually impaired" to refer to individuals with visual impairments
- Avoid using terms like "special needs" to refer to individuals with disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "handicapped accessible" to refer to wheelchair-accessible spaces
- Avoid using terms like "freak" unless self-identifying as such
- Avoid using terms like "epileptic fit" to refer to seizures
- Avoid using terms like "sufferers" or "stricken with" to refer to individuals with disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "victim" unless referring to a victim of murder; instead, use "survivor"
Language to Avoid in Disability Writing
- Avoid using stigmatizing language when writing or speaking about disability
- Phrases like "wheelchair-bound" and "confined to a wheelchair" are harmful and should be replaced with "wheelchair user"
- Terms like "handicapped", "differently abled", "lame", and "physically challenged" are also harmful and should be avoided
- Using words like "crip", "cripple", or "gimp" can be harmful unless used by someone who self-identifies as such
- Avoid making jokes about speed limits or racing when referring to people with mobility disabilities
Language to Use in Disability Writing
- Use "disabled" or "people with disabilities" (PWDs) to refer to individuals with disabilities
- Use "person with a [specific] disability" to refer to individuals with specific disabilities
- Use "person with a developmental disability" or "person with an intellectual disability" to refer to individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities
- Use "person with Down syndrome" to refer to individuals with Down syndrome
- Use "psychiatric disability" or "person with [specific diagnosis/disability]" to refer to individuals with mental health disabilities
- Use "autistic" or "person with autism" to refer to individuals with autism
- Use "neurodivergent" to refer to individuals with neurodiverse conditions
- Use "deaf" or "hard of hearing" to refer to individuals with hearing impairments
Avoidable Language in Disability Writing
- Avoid using terms like "retarded", "feeble-minded", "slow", "delayed", or "mentally deficient" to refer to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "psychotic", "mad", "crazy", or "demented" to refer to individuals with mental health disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "midget" or "dwarf" to refer to individuals with little personism
- Avoid using terms like "patient" or "vegetable" to refer to individuals with disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "nuthouse" or "loony bin" to refer to institutions or facilities
- Avoid using terms like "normal", "whole", or "able-bodied" to refer to individuals without disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "deaf-and-dumb" or "hearing impaired" to refer to individuals with hearing impairments
- Avoid using terms like "mute" to refer to individuals who do not communicate verbally
- Avoid using terms like "high functioning" or "low functioning" to refer to individuals with autism
- Avoid using terms like "visually impaired" to refer to individuals with visual impairments
- Avoid using terms like "special needs" to refer to individuals with disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "handicapped accessible" to refer to wheelchair-accessible spaces
- Avoid using terms like "freak" unless self-identifying as such
- Avoid using terms like "epileptic fit" to refer to seizures
- Avoid using terms like "sufferers" or "stricken with" to refer to individuals with disabilities
- Avoid using terms like "victim" unless referring to a victim of murder; instead, use "survivor"
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Description
Learn about the harmful language to avoid when writing or speaking about disability, and how to use inclusive language instead. Discover the importance of respectful language and how to promote disability awareness.
