The fact that someone is blind or uses a wheelchair may or may not be relevant to the article you are writing. Do not mention someone’s disability unless it is essential to the story. People may be inspired by them just as they may be inspired by anyone else. Stereotypes may raise false expectations that everyone with a disability is or should be an inspiration. Portray successful people with disabilities in a balanced way, not as heroic or superhuman.ĭo not make assumptions by saying a person with a disability is heroic or inspiring because they are simply living their lives. She is mentally ill/emotionally disturbed/ insaneġ2. She has a mental health condition or psychiatric disability Person with substance use disorder person experiencing alcohol/drug problem He is (a) bipolar he is (a) manic-depressive He has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder he is living with bipolar disorder The American Psychiatric Association has new guidelines for communicating responsibly about mental health. Much work needs to be done to break down stigma around psychiatric disabilities. Do not use language that perpetuates negative stereotypes about psychiatric disabilities. Only refer to someone as a patient when his or her relationship with a health care provider is under discussion. People with disabilities can be healthy, although they may have a chronic condition such as arthritis or diabetes. Remember that disability is not an illness and people with disabilities are not patients. In discussions that include people both with and without disabilities, do not use words that imply negative stereotypes of those with disabilities.ġ0. Do not use offensive language.Įxamples of offensive language include freak, retard, lame, imbecile, vegetable, cripple, crazy, or psycho. Terms like differently-abled, challenged, handi-capable or special are often considered condescending. Note that ‘handicapped’ is an outdated and unacceptable term to use when referring to individuals or accessible environments. Use language that emphasizes the need for accessibility rather than the presence of a disability. Person afflicted with epilepsy, epilepticĦ.
Use neutral language.ĭo not use language that portrays the person as passive or suggests a lack of something: victim, invalid, defective. Examples of Identity-First Language include identifying someone as a deaf person instead of a person who is deaf, or an autistic person instead of a person with autism. Some people see their disability as an essential part of who they are and prefer to be identified with their disability first – this is called Identity-First Language. People with disabilities have different preferences when referring to their disability. However, always ask to find out an individual’s language preferences. Student receiving special education servicesĪ person of short stature or little personĤ. Person with a disability, people with disabilities A person isn’t a disability, condition or diagnosis a person has a disability, condition or diagnosis. Labeling a person equates the person with a condition and can be disrespectful and dehumanizing. People with disabilities are, first and foremost, people. In general, refer to the person first and the disability second. Person who uses a communication device uses an alternative method of communicationģ. Wheelchair-bound confined to a wheelchair Emphasize abilities, not limitations.Ĭhoosing language that emphasizes what people can do instead of what they can’t do is empowering. While some people prefer to be public about their disability, such as including information about their disability in a media article, others choose to not be publically identified as a person with a disability. Ask to find out if an individual is willing to disclose their disability.ĭo not assume that people with disabilities are willing to disclose their disability.
This factsheet provides guidelines for portraying individuals with disabilities in a respectful and balanced way by using language that is accurate, neutral and objective. The words you use and the way you portray individuals with disabilities matters.
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