Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Program

How can I make my faith community more inclusive: People First Language

Words, whether spoken or signed, are the basic means by which people communicate. Words are powerful tools that can affirm and empower. At the same time, the misuse of words can belittle and demean. Language used to describe people with disabilities often focuses on lack of ability rather than on competency. Age-old terms such as “deaf and dumb,” “invalid,” or “idiot” continue to be used despite their disrespectful tone and the inaccurate message they portray.

When writing or speaking about people with disabilities, words should be chosen with care in order to promote dignity and a positive image. The following suggestions, adapted from guidelines developed by Paraquad, Inc., and The Research and Training Center on Independent Living, may assist in this process:

Make reference to the person first, then the disability. Say “a person with a disability” rather than “a disabled person.”
If the disability isn’t germane to the story or conversation, don’t mention it.
A person is not a condition; therefore, avoid describing a person in such a manner. Don’t present someone as an “epileptic.” Rather say “a person with epilepsy.”
Do not portray successful people with disabilities as superhuman, as this raises expectations that all people with disabilities should reach this level.
Do not sensationalize a disability by use of such terms as “afflicted with,” “victim of,” “suffers from.”
Do not use generic labels for disability groups such as “the retarded.”

The following terms should be avoided because they have negative connotations and evoke pity:

Words with Dignity	Words to Avoid
Person with a Disability, disabled	Crippled, handicapped, invalid (literally, invalid means "not valid")
Person who has, person who experienced, person with	Victim, afflicted with or by
Non-disabled	Normal (referring to non-disabled people as normal insinuates that people with disabilities are not normal
Uses a wheelchair	Restricted or confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound (the chair enables mobility), wheelchair person
Deaf, nonverbal	Deaf mute, deaf and dumb, dummy
Disabled since birth, born with
Emotional disorder, mental illness	Crazy, insane, mental case, psycho
Has a physical disability of spinal curvature	Deformed, misshapen, hunchbacked
Has multiple or severe disabilities	Vegetable, creature, freak
Person with mental retardation	Retard, idiot