Choosing Words for Talking About Disability For example, use "people with mental illnesses" not "the mentally . People With Disabilities Or Disabled People? What Is Correct? My oldest childhood friend is a person with a disability. And yet they have always carried the assumed prejudices of those times towards the people those terms represented. I dont know what to say, really, because I know if I tell you something, someone else will be telling you something different. More Appropriate: blind, legally blind, partially sighted, vision impaired, Less Appropriate: deaf and dumb, deaf-mute, dummy. Andrews is the director of psychology training for the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. "Handi-capable", "People of all abilities", "Different abilities", "Differently abled" can be lumped together with "special needs.". Avoid the term "handicapped," as some find it insensitive. We are all judged on how we communicate, no laws are necessary for this age old ritual. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Most disabled people are comfortable with the words used to describe daily living. Specific disorders are types of mental illness and should be used whenever possible (for example, when not referring to people with different mental health disorders collectively). You can review and change the way we collect information below. But the way we refer to other people affects how we think of them. Disabled is a describing word and should not be used to categorize a group of individuals. The contentious debate never seems to end over what are the right and wrong words and phrases to use to discuss anything to do with disabilities and disabled people. Its a word used with pride. Is that person over there going to jump on me? "They are retarded" becomes "They are people with developmental disabilities.". Is there any alternative to person-first language? "It is fine to say 'person with a disability,' but terms like 'challenged' and 'the disabled' have fallen out of favor." When in doubt about what term to use, ask. But after 8 years of blogging, it will take me forever to find every instance where it says special needs and replace it. Members of Deaf culture want their label to be capitalized with a "D," which is a means for establishing unity and community. 4. Dunn is the author or editor of 29 books and over 150 journal articles, chapters and book reviews. They werent viewed as insults at the time. And that is, But my daughter cannot speak, so I have no way of knowing her preferences. Older buildings that lack ramps for wheelchair access, for example, present a handicap for people who use wheelchairs. One approach encourages a degree of positive emotionalism and persuasion to be built into disability language. That makes it tricky, you know, for allies to the disabled/Down syndrome parent community. Dumb, mute ; Person who cannot speak, has difficulty speaking, uses synthetic speech, is non-vocal, non-verbal . Finally, non-disabled people shouldnt lecture disabled people on correct terminology. Somewhere around 15-20% of the human population is disabled. They say people with disabilities and you say disabled.. I occasionally get email from folks, and much of it is condescending and patronizing, telling me to use PFL and stuff. Used as a put-down in most cases. These conditions, or impairments, may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, sensory, or a combination of multiple factors. In the UK, for instance, they prefer the phrase "disabled people". Person-first and identity-first language: Developing psychologists' cultural competence using disability language. How he will access them is different. Speaking as someone with a few years of experience working with people with developmental disabilities the current politically correct term is what I just used. As a counselor, it's also a place in which I offer you wellness, support and resources. any physical or mental defect, congenital or acquired, preventing or restricting a person from . "Impaired" means weakened, diminished, or damaged. They are individuals who can do some things and cant do other things. For now, because I am not disabled, I am going to follow their lead, as we all should do. Healthcare Access & Access to Services and Resources, Non-U.S.-born Persons / Immigration Status, People Who are at Increased / Higher Risk, Working Partners & Community Collaborators, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Is Political Correctness? Definition, Pros, and Cons - ThoughtCo Doing so hinders understanding and can even trivialize other, more important qualities possessed by the individual. 2. Ten Commandments for How to Talk About Mental Health Person with . Now that we know the distinction between disability and handicap, how do we refer people who have disabilities? People with lower socioeconomic status should only be used when SES is defined (for example, when income, education, parental education, and occupation are used as a measure of SES). The term "intellectual disability" is gradually replacing the term "mental retardation" nationwide. Confusion in the use and understanding of these terms can impact the lives and safety of refugees and asylum-seekers. Term Now Used: disabled person, person with a disability. Avoid medical labels. I myself have been one of those that have been upset. Its use may be considered on an audience-specific basis. People who use wheelchairs go for walks and people with visual impairments may be very pleased or not to see you. But most disabled folks, Read More 4 Ideas for Developing A Strong Leadership Pipeline with Disabled Youth, by Corbett OTooleContinue, The second post in the weekly Sibling Series, exploring relationships between siblings with disabilities, we have a post written by Patti of A Perfect Lily . We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. PDF Respectful Disability Language: Here's What's Up! If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. What Is the Difference Between Special Education - Synonym We are carefully taught by one wave of credible activists and diversity consultants to say people with disabilities, only to be told by a later generation of disabled people that this diminishes the experience and meaning of disability, and is in any case awkward and a little condescending. Comment: Terms are inaccurate, demeaning. Mortal flesh heals quicker than an immortal soul, and that soul is what has the potential to be hurt in a word. Used as a put-down in most cases. Lists. The Backlash. Dont automatically refer to disabled people in all communications many people who need disability benefits and services dont identify with this term. Its not something special we do for them. It's a blanket term that refers to anyone who has a physical (or mental) disability. 4 years ago, I wrote a post calledThe Choice to Suffer. What are politically correct terms? Disability. The correct term is "disability"a person with a disability. I am a disabled person. Sometimes groups of disabled people make their own consensus choices, such as Little People, and Deaf people who capitalize the D in Deaf because they view it as a culture defined by language, like French. In addition, avoid terms such as "confined to a wheelchair" or "disabled toilet or parking space." Instead, use the terms, the student in a wheelchair or the student who uses a wheelchair, the accessible toilet or accessible parking space. A disability may be present from birth, or occur during a person's lifetime. Search the term politically correct, and youll find it defined as the belief that language and actions that could be offensive to others, especially those relating to sex and race, should be avoided. Jamie Davis Smith also echoes my sentiments, which apply to this issue and the People First Language issue. The following provides some preferred terms for select population groups; these terms attempt to represent an ongoing shift toward non-stigmatizing language. So, what do you do? Remember that both approaches are designed to respect disabled persons, so both are fine choices. When is it appropriate to use the word handicap or handicapped? Stutterer, tongue-tied ; Person with a speech impairment, who has a speech . There are nouniversal agreed-upon guidelines. Disability is the consequence of an impairment that may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these. Why you shouldn't use 'differently-abled' anymore - BetterUp Comment: Terms are variations of the condition and describes someone as the condition and implies the person is an object of medical care. [/vc_message][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]When I first started my job at UC Berkeley, coordinating a program in conjunction with the state of California, Read More The Gift of a Moment: Understanding Difficult Times and ChoicesContinue, Anyone who says, its just a word is forgetting that the pen is mightier than the sword, forgetting that words wound more deeply than any knife could. Part of an identity. People should be allowed to use terms that mean something to them. Its the kind of situation where if you are part of the group you can use it for yourselves, but from other peoples mouths its an insult. The add-on phrase "with a disability," for example, effectively dissociates the disability from the person. The question resists all attempts to forge broad consensus. Say "person with disability" rather than "disabled person." Say "people with disability" rather than "the disabled." A disability is present when activities usually performed by people (such as walking, talking, reading or learning) are in some way restricted. Incapacitated. Impairment Respect disabled peoples actual language preferences. Quinn West, a disabled artist living in Chicago, grew up going to a mainstream school and felt the impact of the term "special needs." "Abled people assume that saying 'special' means a 'good . Now, it's just a term that you should be staying way the hell away from (see this post) "Disability" is a particular way of seeing, hearing, feeling, thinking, moving, learning, sensing, being. Disability Loans Print page Politically Correct Language of Disability. ), More Appropriate: Anita has a physical disability; Tom is unable to walk, Less Appropriate: sightless, blind as a bat, four eyes. This discussion of banning or rendering certain words taboo inevitably leads to what-aboutism aimed at people from marginalized groups reclaiming insulting terms for their own internal purposes. Consider using the terms sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. In between my life lived with disabilities and being a parent of a child with a disability, Ive seen an awful lot of upset over words that are directed towards the disability community, however inadvertently. Use disabled people not the disabled as the collective term. For instance, one person who has dwarfism might like to be referred to as a "dwarf," whereas another might prefer to be called a "person with dwarfism." Preferred Terms for Select Population Groups & Communities Its the constant little pin-pricks of being called what we specifically ask to NOT be called from the handi-capable, special needs, the references to wheelchair bound, and the differently-abled.. So while moron and idiot in the 19th and early 20th centuries were clinical terms for different levels of intellectual disability, the horrifically disdainful and disgusted opinions about intellectually disabled people helped make those words insulting, at the time and especially today. Why are we avoiding using the word disabled? To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk. A little person is one of the more than 200 medical conditions known as dwarfism. I think whats important is that we all acknowledge that were on different parts of this journey and have things to learn. What is the politically correct term for the disabled? New York, NY: Oxford University Press. A disability is any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or effectively interact with the world around them (socially or materially). Deaf-Mute, Deaf and Dumb, Hard of Hearing, Hearing Impaired, Disabled Consider racial/ethnic groups as proper nouns and capitalize (for example, Black, White). That is, its person-first language a person with a disability until the person sees disability as an identity, then it becomes identify first. Take note of their choices in written language. For example, do not use refugee if you mean immigrant.. "Visual impairment" is considered the accepted and politically correct term for describing the whole spectrum of vision, or the lack thereof, experienced by people with a visual disability. Disabled people, their families and friends, their allies and casual acquaintances, and their antagonists cant agree on which words strike the right balance between accuracy, clarity, realism, and positivity. Lawrence Carter-Long, who founded the movement called Disabled, Say the Word, says, "The language we use mirrors the ways we think," he says. And yes, by law this is their right. Instead, use: "Person living with schizophrenia"; "Person experiencing psychosis, disorientation or hallucination". The backlash began in the United States in the early 1990s when conservative intellectuals began to use "political correctness" to criticize the left for imposing their views on . What Is The Politically Correct Term For Disabled What if you want to use the actual meaning of the word in a correct context, like retard growth? Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Comment: Terms are outdated and stigmatizing. Consider these guidelines when communicating with or about disabled people. First I want to quote another parent like me, who did a similar post almost a year ago. Terms like differently abled, physically or mentally challenged, exceptional, and special needs are generally well-intended, at least on the surface. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. Persons aged [numeric age group] (for example, persons aged 55-64 years), Elders when referring to older adults in a cultural context, Elderly or frail elderly when referring to older adults in a specific clinical context, People who are at increased/higher risk for [condition], People who live/work in settings that put them at increased/higher risk of becoming infected or exposed to hazards, Referring to people as their race/ethnicity (for example, Blacks, Hispanics, Latinos, Whites, American Indians, etc. 140 Synonyms & Antonyms of DISABLED - Merriam-Webster However, she actually is not handicapped herself; rather, the handicapping element is in the environment, not within her. The term migrant farmworker or migrant agricultural worker is often used to refer to persons who travel from their home base to another location within the same country, or from one country to another, to perform agricultural work. All the Other Words Make Us Gag. Worked for me. Best practices include engaging people from the population or community of focus to find out what they prefer. Your email address will not be published. 4. I couldnt agree with her more. To declare oneself or another person as deaf or blind, for example, was considered somewhat bold, rude, or impolite. Don't use: "Schizophrenic, psychotic, disturbed, crazy or insane". Erin E. Andrews, former co-chair of APA's Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology is board certified in rehabilitation psychology and currently serves as the supervisory psychologist at the Austin Veterans Affairs (VA) Outpatient Clinic, the largest freestanding VA outpatient clinic in the United States. In itself, its not a negative or a positive necessarily in terms of describing the person or experience, but something which combines with everything else to make you, YOU. As with other marginalized groups, we should know by now that refusing to acknowledge or talk about disability as a real experience doesnt make life better for disabled people. Lawrence Carter-Long, who founded the movement called Disabled, Say the Word, says, The language we use mirrors the ways we think, he says. Pay attention to the words adults with disabilities use most often. for over a decade. Identity-first language promotes use of phrases like "amputee," "diabetic" and "disabled person" (but not "victim" or similar negative words) where disability identity comes first. That is, people outside of our community who care about us and our kids, people who want to be our friends and allies, people who want to do and say the right thing. The handicapped are no longer covered by this term. The term "mental retardation" is finally being eliminated from the international classifications of diseases and disorders. The definition of politically correct language (abbreviated to PC) is choosing and using words that focus on empathy, fairness and justice. One interesting thing to note is that nearly all of these insulting, offensive terms were once commonly accepted, even clinical descriptions for various disabilities. I also know that there are people who disagree with me, and thats ok too. Be aware that not every family is the same, and that some children are not being raised by their biological parents. We are all at different points on our journey and learning and language and vernacular are constantly changing. If you want to hear me reading this, just click the link below. disability, speech disorder, or communication disability ; CP victim, spastic . American Psychologist, 70, 255-264. Recognize obviously insulting terms and stop using or tolerating them. More Appropriate: Sam has epilepsy, Tony has cerebral palsy (CP), Helen has a learning disability, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Less Appropriate: special, person has special needs, Comment: Term is patronizing and distancing by those with disabilities. A philosophical observation: By using the term impaired, society has expanded the meaning of the word, making it less precise. Comment: People with disabilities are not collectively inspirational or courageous. Any well-meaning persons reasons for the choices they believe in are largely secondary compared to respecting what how disabled person wants to be talked about and referred to. Identity First using person with a disability or disabled person. Its a debate largely within the disability community that is about evenly divided and in transition. Traumatic Brain Injury Resources and Blog Posts, Cool Cats: Voices from the Disability Community, International Alliance of Writers for Down Syndrome: The T21 Alliance, The Right Things to Say to Someone with a Chronic Illness, The famous person or situation or whatever apologizes. Because my son uses a wheelchair and because quite often we go out in public just the two of us, we often have trouble accessing doors. Unhandicap Your Language. 3. potatomoonlight 6 yr. ago. Considering using terms that are inclusive of all gender identities (for example parents-to-be; expectant parents). Within context, there shouldnt be any confusion about it referring to the Asian country, India. Not all people who have had a mental or emotional disability have it forever or to the same degree all the time. Some people consider it best to use person-first language, for example "a person with a disability" rather than "a disabled person." [1] By doing so, a disabled individual intentionally chooses an identity rather than allowing others even well meaning others, such as family, friends and medical professionals to do so for them. In regards to accessible facilities: Acceptable: accessible toilets/parking, parking for blue or orange badge holders. Consider using people with health conditions or impairments if it seems more appropriate. Person first was supposed to emphasize personhood in contrast with summing up people by their disabilities. What is politically correct, handicapped or disabled? - Quora "Person with a Disability" is a more inclusive, less biased term to describe someone who is disabled . What Is The Politically Correct Term For Disabled? What is the politically correct term for homeless? Im learning. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. Even U.S. law has changed from using the term "mental retardation" to the term "intellectual disability." Just Politically Correct? The first term handicap refers to an obstacle imposed on people by some constraint in the environment. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. The term stakeholder is used across many disciplines to reflect different levels of input or investment in projects or activities. Inclusive language: words to use and avoid when writing about disability More Appropriate: Sue has arthritis, diabetes, paralyzed, has paralysis in her legs, Less Appropriate: Bob is afflicted with, stricken with, suffers from, a victim of polio, spinal cord injury, AIDS. It would be pretty hilarious if someone talked about "African-American-Europeans". Invalid. Comment: Terms reflect negative and tragedy and connote pitiful helplessness, dependency, defeat. This is our third Summer Blog Hop Series, and I want to kick this up a notch. I will still make mistakes. A disability is a condition or quality linked to a particular person. 7 Appropriate Things To Say Instead Of "Crippled" - Grammarhow The commenter was concerned that blanket use of the new term by various entities . Background: The Oxford English dictionary defines an invalid as . In everyday life, some people use the term handicapor refer to people with disabilities as the handicapped. Debilitated. These are all terms which should never be used in conversation, and there would be little loss in communication if we did just stop using them except for historical or explanatory purposes (like their appearance in this article). Disability itself does not create a strong person, that strength comes from within the person. Yet many well-meaning, but misinformed, people persist in referring to us as "hearing impaired.". The terms used for people with disabilities all too frequently perpetuate stereotypes and false ideas. When describing a combination of racial/ethnic groups (for example, 3 or more sub-groups) use people from some racial and ethnic groups or people from racial and ethnic minority groups. The Term "Intellectual Disability" Is Too Broad and, Therefore, Unclear. Often used by programs providing services and support for disabled people and meant as a positive alternative. Unacceptable: the disabled, the handicapped. We recommend using this section as a guide and inspiration to reflect upon word . Very few adults refer to their disabilities as special needs, which should maybe cause us to rethink using the term for kids and youth with disabilities. Dont call us special needs. Our needs are not special, they are human. More Appropriate: people who are developmentally disabled have Downs Syndrome, Less Appropriate: Sam is epileptic, Tony is CP (cerebral palsied),- spastic, Helen is LD (learning disabled), is AD/HD. They say little about people as individuals and tend to reinforce stereotypes of disabled people as patients or unwell. A politically correct word or expression is used instead of another one to avoid being offensive: Some people think that "fireman" is a sexist term, and prefer the politically correct term "firefighter." The term has often been used derisively . Being disabled is not something to be ashamed of, and its not something to be scared of; its just a fact of life.