The Language

It is important to people with disabilities that they be portrayed realistically and spoken to respectfully. People with disabilities prefer that you focus on their individuality, not their disability, unless of course, it is the topic about which you are writing or speaking.

For example, the words ‘disabled people’ define people as disabled first and people second. The term "people with disabilities" is the preferred usage since it stresses the humanity of individuals.

Don't Use	Use these "People-First" terms instead
1. The deaf	1. people who are deaf
2. The vision impaired	2. people with vision impairments
3. The disabled	3. people with disabilities
4. polio victim	4. had polio
5. a victim of AIDS	5. a person with AIDS
6. bound/ confined to a wheelchair	6. uses a wheelchair
7. homebound employment	7. employed in The home
8. victim	8. person who has or experienced
9. Crippled	9. person with a disability
10. Invalid	10. person who has a disability caused by

In addition to the previous appropriate terms, be careful not to imply that people with disabilities are to be pitied, feared, or ignored, or that they are somehow more heroic, courageous, patient, or ‘special’ than others. Never use the term ‘normal’ in contrast.

When talking about people with disabilities, always choose words that carry nonjudgmental connotations and are accurate descriptions.

Finally, remember that a person with a disability is a person like anyone else. If you don’t know what to say or do, let the person who has the disability help put you at ease and set the pace for talking.