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Frequently our terms or labels for people with disabilities perpetuate stereotypes and false ideas. This guide is offered as one way to take the "dis" out of our “disabling” language and change our thinking. It is selective, not exhaustive, and is intended as suggestion, not censorship.
Disabling Language: The Handicapped, Physically Challenged, Deformed
Respectful Language: People with Disabilities.
Reason: Blanket terms rob people of their individuality. They view people only in terms of their disabilities.
Disabling Language: The Deaf
Respectful Language: Person who is deaf or hard of hearing.
Reason: Humanizing nouns are preferable as they are people first.
Disabling Language: The Blind, The Sightless
Respectful Language: Person who is blind or visually impaired.
Reason: Humanizing nouns are preferable as they are people first.
Disabling Language: Dumb, Mute, Talks Bad
Respectful Language: Person who cannot speak.
Reason: Humanizing nouns are preferable as they are people first.
Disabling Language: Deaf and Dumb, Deaf-Mute
Respectful Language: Person who is deaf and unable to speak.
Reason: Implies mental incapacitation.
Disabling Language: Brain Damage
Respectful Language: Brain injury.
Reason: Implies inferiority.
Disabling Language: Developmental Abnormalities, Birth Defects
Respectful Language: Person with developmental disabilities. Person with birth defects.
Reason: Suggests people with disabilities are less than human.
Disabling Language: Ann is an arthritic case or patient.
Respectful Language: Ann has arthritis.
Reason: Defines people with disabilities only as objects or medical care.
Disabling Language: She was Stricken with (or afflicted by) Polio. She is a victim of or suffers from…
Respectful Language: She has Polio. Was diagnosed with…
Reason: Denies other roles (parents, spouse, friends…).Connotes helplessness, dependency, and pity.
Disabling Language: Sick
Respectful Language: There isn't any.
Reason: Most people with disabilities do not have diseases.
Disabling Language: Invalid
Respectful Language: There isn't any.
Reason: The opposite of valid.
Disabling Language: Cripple, Crippled, Incapacitated
Respectful Language: Person with a disability.
Reason: “Cripple” is a derogatory term. Implies inferiority or incapability.
Disabling Language: Confined to a Wheelchair, Wheelchair-Bound, Physically Challenged
Respectful Language: Wheelchair user. Uses a wheelchair.
Reason: Wheelchairs do not confine; they allow people to be mobile. Wheelchair users are not restricted to their wheelchair.
Disabling Language: Kim is an epileptic.
Respectful Language: Kim has epilepsy.
Reason: Defines people by their disability.
Disabling Language: Victim, Stricken with…
Respectful Language: Person living with…
Reason: Connotes helplessness and/or a repulsive oddity.
Disabling Language: Deformed, Deformity, Maimed, Hunch-Backed
Respectful Language: Has a physical disability. Person with spinal curvature.
Reason: Connotes helplessness and/or a repulsive oddity.
Disabling Language: Lame, Gimp, Withered
Respectful Language: Walks with crutches. Uses a mobility aid. Has a disabled hand.
Reason: Defines a person with a label.
Disabling Language: Vegetable
Respectful Language: Person with multiple or severe disabilities.
Reason: Robs people with severe disabilities of their humanity.
Disabling Language: Mentally Retarded, Simple Minded, Slow, Retard, Retarded
Respectful Language: Person with a learning, cognitive, or developmental disability.
Reason: Outdated and stigmatizing.
Disabling Language: Mentally Ill, Crazy, Insane, Psycho, Behavior Disorder, Emotionally Disturbed
Respectful Language: Person with a mental health or emotional disability.
Reason: Outdated and stigmatizing.
Disabling Language: Fits, Spastic, Spazz
Respectful Language: Person who experiences seizures. Person with Cerebral Palsy.
Reason: Outdated and stigmatizing.
Disabling Language: Dwarf, Midget
Respectful Language: Person of short stature. Little Person.
Reason: Humanizing nouns are preferable as they are people first.
Disabling Language: Normal
Respectful Language: Able-bodied.
Reason: