Inclusive language: words to use and avoid when writing about disability
Updated 15 March 2021
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Consider these guidelines when communicating with or about disabled people.
1. Language guidelines
Not everyone will agree on everything but there is general agreement on some basic guidelines.
1.1 Collective terms and labels
The word 바카라 사이트˜disabled바카라 사이트™ is a description not a group of people. Use 바카라 사이트˜disabled people바카라 사이트™ not 바카라 사이트˜the disabled바카라 사이트™ as the collective term.
However, many deaf people whose first language is BSL consider themselves part of 바카라 사이트˜the deaf community바카라 사이트™ 바카라 사이트“ they may describe themselves as 바카라 사이트˜Deaf바카라 사이트™, with a capital D, to emphasise their deaf identity.
Avoid medical labels. They say little about people as individuals and tend to reinforce stereotypes of disabled people as 바카라 사이트˜patients바카라 사이트™ or unwell.
Don바카라 사이트™t automatically refer to 바카라 사이트˜disabled people바카라 사이트™ in all communications 바카라 사이트“ many people who need disability benefits and services don바카라 사이트™t identify with this term. Consider using 바카라 사이트˜people with health conditions or impairments바카라 사이트™ if it seems more appropriate.
1.2 Positive not negative
Avoid phrases like 바카라 사이트˜suffers from바카라 사이트™ which suggest discomfort, constant pain and a sense of hopelessness.
Wheelchair users may not view themselves as 바카라 사이트˜confined to바카라 사이트™ a wheelchair 바카라 사이트“ try thinking of it as a mobility aid instead.
1.3 Everyday phrases
Most disabled people are comfortable with the words used to describe daily living. People who use wheelchairs 바카라 사이트˜go for walks바카라 사이트™ and people with visual impairments may be very pleased 바카라 사이트“ or not 바카라 사이트“ 바카라 사이트˜to see you바카라 사이트™. An impairment may just mean that some things are done in a different way.
Common phrases that may associate impairments with negative things should be avoided, for example 바카라 사이트˜deaf to our pleas바카라 사이트™ or 바카라 사이트˜blind drunk바카라 사이트™.
2. Words to use and avoid
Avoid passive, victim words. Use language that respects disabled people as active individuals with control over their own lives.
| Avoid | Use |
|---|---|
| (the) handicapped, (the) disabled | disabled (people) |
| afflicted by, suffers from, victim of | has [name of condition or impairment] |
| confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair-bound | wheelchair user |
| mentally handicapped, mentally defective, retarded, subnormal | with a learning disability (singular) with learning disabilities (plural) |
| cripple, invalid | disabled person |
| spastic | person with cerebral palsy |
| able-bodied | non-disabled |
| mental patient, insane, mad | person with a mental health condition |
| deaf and dumb; deaf mute | deaf, user of British Sign Language (BSL), person with a hearing impairment |
| the blind | people with visual impairments; blind people; blind and partially sighted people |
| an epileptic, diabetic, depressive, and so on | person with epilepsy, diabetes, depression or someone who has epilepsy, diabetes, depression |
| dwarf; midget | someone with restricted growth or short stature |
| fits, spells, attacks | seizures |
3. Some tips on behaviour
- use a normal tone of voice, don바카라 사이트™t patronise or talk down
- don바카라 사이트™t be too precious or too politically correct 바카라 사이트“ being super-sensitive to the right and wrong language and depictions will stop you doing anything
- never attempt to speak or finish a sentence for the person you are talking to
- address disabled people in the same way as you talk to everyone else
- speak directly to a disabled person, even if they have an interpreter or companion with them