USE WORDS WITH DIGNITY
Basic Guidelines
Make reference to the person first, then the disability.
For example: “A person with a disability” rather than a “disabled person.”
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The following are words that are affirmative and reflect a positive attitude. These are words with dignity. |
The following words have strong negative connotations, please do not use. |
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Disability |
Handicap |
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Person who has multiple sclerosis |
Stricken with multiple sclerosis |
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Person with paraplegia (person with limited or no use of lower limbs) |
Para
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Person with quadriplegia (person with limited or no use of all four limbs) |
Quad
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Person who has cerebral palsy |
Spastic |
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Person who has a speech impairment |
Speech defect |
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Person with a head injury |
The head injured |
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Person with AIDS |
AIDS victim |
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Person who has polio, has arthritis, etc. |
Crippled with polio, arthritis, etc. |
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Person with an intellectual disability |
Retard |
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Person with a learning disability |
Dim witted, slow |
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Person with a mental disorder/mental illness |
Mentally ill |
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Person with an emotional disorder |
Crazy |
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Person who is blind, partially blind/Blind Person |
Blind guys, visually impaired* |
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Person who is deaf/Deaf Person |
Deaf and dumb, deaf mute |
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Person who is hard of hearing |
Hearing impaired* |
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Sign language interpreter |
Deaf interpreter |
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Born with “_________” |
Birth defect |
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Caused by “__________” |
Afflicted by |
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Non-disabled (referring to a non-disabled persons as normal insinuates that disabled persons are not normal) |
Normal |
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Person in a wheelchair |
Confined/restricted to a wheelchair** |
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Person who walks with crutches, a walker, a cane, a limp, etc. |
Crippled |
Many blind persons and deaf persons consider the words “visually impaired” and “hearing impaired” to be offensive. Blind simply means without the sense or use of sight. Deaf simply means partially or totally unable to hear. They believe these two words describe their situation best. They do not wish to be identified as diminished in strengthor value, which the word “impaired” denotes.
**Crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs are mobility aids. Without the use of these mobility aids, the person may be restricted from participation in their community.
MICHELLE KREFFT, BUSINESS CONSULTANT PHONE: 515-281-0264 CELL:515-664-785 MICHELLE.KREFFT@IOWA.GOV