Niagara Shares

Writing and speaking about people with disabilities

Linda here: The item below is taken directly from the publication Word Choices: A lexicon of preferred terms for disability issues published by the Ministry of Citizenship in 1993 with one or two small additions by me. Its message is just as good today as it was then and it can help you write more effectively about people with disabilities and disease. I know writing "people with disabilities" instead of "the disabled" takes a tiny bit longer but it puts people first and that's the name of the game. If you think people first, you can't go wrong.

"As media professionals, you influence and reinforce the public's perception of people with disabilities. The words you use and images you present can create either a positive view of people with disabilities or an indifferent, negative depiction.

This lexicon of words and phrases will help you choose language that is neither demeaning nor hurtful. it was developed by the Ontario Office for Disability Issues and representatives from consumer and other organizations working with persons with disabilities.

Comments were sought from more than 100 organizations in Ontario. Although opinions may differ on some terms, the lexicon presents the consensus among those who were consulted.

Four words to be avoided that make people with disabilities cringe when read: Afflicted, Suffer or sufferer, Victim

Instead of: autistics or "the autistics" please us person with autism or has autism
Instead of birth defect please use congenital disability, blind from birth, deaf from birth
Instead of blind ... A person with no vision or with almost no vision is blind. People with some sight are partially sighted, visually impaired or have low vision, not partially blind.
Instead of brain-damaged please use brain-injured
Instead of confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound please use person who uses a wheelchair (A wheelchair provides mobility for persons who cannot walk. It is not confining.)
Instead of crazy, insane please use mentally ill
Instead of crippled please use disabled or be more specific, walks with crutches or leg braces or uses a mobility aid.
Instead of deaf and dumb or deaf mute please use deaf (person with profound hearing loss who communicates by sign language) deafened (deaf late in life) culturally deaf (exposed to sigh language since birth or early in life)
Instead of epileptic please use person with epilepsy
Instead of fits or spells please use seizures
Instead of handicap please use person with a disability or rather than he's handicapped - use he has a disability. Instead of hearing impaired please usehard of hearing (person with any degree of hearing loss who communicates primarily by speech)
Instead of lupus sufferer please use person with lupus
Insead of mongolism please use Down's syndrome
Instead of MS person please use person who has multiple sclerosis
Instead of normal ...Normal is not to be used as opposite to disabled. Say disabled and nondisabled and able-bodied, or use more specific terms such as sighted, ambulatory.
Patient only please in a medical context or referring to a relationship with a medical practitioner please use, people with disabilities or whatever they have. A person with a disability is not automatically a patient.
Instead of physically challenged please use physically disabled
Instead of mentally retarded please use persons with developmental disabilities, developmentally disabled
Instead of stutterer please use person with a speech impairment
Instead of The disabled please use persons with disabilities. Disabled people do not want to be categorized as "the disabled".
Instead of The blind please use persons who are blind
Instead of The deaf please use persons who are deaf
Instead of The deaf-blind please use deaf-blind persons (people who have varying combinations of visual and auditory impairments)

Wheelchair Etiquette

from Pauline Baker on behalf of the Social Action Committee for the Multiple Sclerosis Society

At a meeting for the Social Action Committee for the MS Society, we discussed the ongoing problem of common courtesy extended (or not extended) to persons in wheelchairs and/or scooters. Most people try to be helpful but forget to ask the person in an assistive device first if they need the help. At times, it ends in more frustration on both sides.

If in a buffet line, it would be best for anyone wanting to assist us, to ask first before simply

handling things on their own. I am capable of helping myself to food items and do not appreciate someone behind me taking over serving my food for me without my requesting the help. The other degrading thing that happens in a buffet line when in wheelchair, scooter or walker is people walking across in front of you as if you are not there. I have almost hit someone walking in front of me while moving foreward in my scooter. They without exception, are annoyed if reminded not to go in front of people, whether they are mobile or not. I have had people even lean on my wheelchair arm or back when passing by to give themselves support when passing by. We prize our personal space the same as able-bodied persons do.

When waiting for an elevator - when a person in a wheelchair is waiting, it would be appreciated if when

an available elevator stops, we be allowed to get on since we have been waiting there through several elevators when people just walk past us as if we were not waiting there.

Accessible parking permits. People need a reminder to remember to have it displayed

prominently when parked in designated spots so it is readily visible and save any misunderstandings about eligibility to park there. Some disabled persons with permits do not know that they do not need to put money in a parking meter if they are going to be away for the time on the meter.

One other most upsetting thing that happens when in a wheelchair is that people tend

to look at your support person or anyone with you and speak to them without acknowledging the person in the wheelchair. A lot of times it is assumed that the disabled person has a cognitive disability and are not worth talking to. The person in the wheelchair could be the interesting one but you'd never know because you assumed he or she had nothing to offer.

People basically don't mean to be disrespectful, but maybe for the ones who are, this may be a gentle reminder to think before they act. These seem to be universal in occurence.

NiagaraShares.com - Resources for seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers.
Home	About this site/ Advisors	Join our chatline	Looking good	Feeling good	Getting around
Housing	Services	Did you know?	Tips for daily living	Publications	How to Give/Get
Good Stuff	Needed in Niagara	Your Stories	Links/ Directory	Terminology/ Etiquette	Contact us
Terminology/Etiquette Index Writing and speaking about people with disabilities Wheelchair etiquette by Pauline Baker Writing and speaking about people with disabilities Linda here: The item below is taken directly from the publication Word Choices: A lexicon of preferred terms for disability issues published by the Ministry of Citizenship in 1993 with one or two small additions by me. Its message is just as good today as it was then and it can help you write more effectively about people with disabilities and disease. I know writing "people with disabilities" instead of "the disabled" takes a tiny bit longer but it puts people first and that's the name of the game. If you think people first, you can't go wrong. "As media professionals, you influence and reinforce the public's perception of people with disabilities. The words you use and images you present can create either a positive view of people with disabilities or an indifferent, negative depiction. This lexicon of words and phrases will help you choose language that is neither demeaning nor hurtful. it was developed by the Ontario Office for Disability Issues and representatives from consumer and other organizations working with persons with disabilities. Comments were sought from more than 100 organizations in Ontario. Although opinions may differ on some terms, the lexicon presents the consensus among those who were consulted. Four words to be avoided that make people with disabilities cringe when read: Afflicted, Suffer or sufferer, Victim Instead of: autistics or "the autistics" please us person with autism or has autism Instead of birth defect please use congenital disability, blind from birth, deaf from birth Instead of blind ... A person with no vision or with almost no vision is blind. People with some sight are partially sighted, visually impaired or have low vision, not partially blind. Instead of brain-damaged please use brain-injured Instead of confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound please use person who uses a wheelchair (A wheelchair provides mobility for persons who cannot walk. It is not confining.) Instead of crazy, insane please use mentally ill Instead of crippled please use disabled or be more specific, walks with crutches or leg braces or uses a mobility aid. Instead of deaf and dumb or deaf mute please use deaf (person with profound hearing loss who communicates by sign language) deafened (deaf late in life) culturally deaf (exposed to sigh language since birth or early in life) Instead of epileptic please use person with epilepsy Instead of fits or spells please use seizures Instead of handicap please use person with a disability or rather than he's handicapped - use he has a disability. Instead of hearing impaired please usehard of hearing (person with any degree of hearing loss who communicates primarily by speech) Instead of lupus sufferer please use person with lupus Insead of mongolism please use Down's syndrome Instead of MS person please use person who has multiple sclerosis Instead of normal ...Normal is not to be used as opposite to disabled. Say disabled and nondisabled and able-bodied, or use more specific terms such as sighted, ambulatory. Patient only please in a medical context or referring to a relationship with a medical practitioner please use, people with disabilities or whatever they have. A person with a disability is not automatically a patient. Instead of physically challenged please use physically disabled Instead of mentally retarded please use persons with developmental disabilities, developmentally disabled Instead of stutterer please use person with a speech impairment Instead of The disabled please use persons with disabilities. Disabled people do not want to be categorized as "the disabled". Instead of The blind please use persons who are blind Instead of The deaf please use persons who are deaf Instead of The deaf-blind please use deaf-blind persons (people who have varying combinations of visual and auditory impairments) Wheelchair Etiquette from Pauline Baker on behalf of the Social Action Committee for the Multiple Sclerosis Society podabaker@yahoo.ca At a meeting for the Social Action Committee for the MS Society, we discussed the ongoing problem of common courtesy extended (or not extended) to persons in wheelchairs and/or scooters. Most people try to be helpful but forget to ask the person in an assistive device first if they need the help. At times, it ends in more frustration on both sides. If in a buffet line, it would be best for anyone wanting to assist us, to ask first before simply handling things on their own. I am capable of helping myself to food items and do not appreciate someone behind me taking over serving my food for me without my requesting the help. The other degrading thing that happens in a buffet line when in wheelchair, scooter or walker is people walking across in front of you as if you are not there. I have almost hit someone walking in front of me while moving foreward in my scooter. They without exception, are annoyed if reminded not to go in front of people, whether they are mobile or not. I have had people even lean on my wheelchair arm or back when passing by to give themselves support when passing by. We prize our personal space the same as able-bodied persons do. When waiting for an elevator - when a person in a wheelchair is waiting, it would be appreciated if when an available elevator stops, we be allowed to get on since we have been waiting there through several elevators when people just walk past us as if we were not waiting there. Accessible parking permits. People need a reminder to remember to have it displayed prominently when parked in designated spots so it is readily visible and save any misunderstandings about eligibility to park there. Some disabled persons with permits do not know that they do not need to put money in a parking meter if they are going to be away for the time on the meter. One other most upsetting thing that happens when in a wheelchair is that people tend to look at your support person or anyone with you and speak to them without acknowledging the person in the wheelchair. A lot of times it is assumed that the disabled person has a cognitive disability and are not worth talking to. The person in the wheelchair could be the interesting one but you'd never know because you assumed he or she had nothing to offer. People basically don't mean to be disrespectful, but maybe for the ones who are, this may be a gentle reminder to think before they act. These seem to be universal in occurence.
NiagaraShares.com - Disclaimer: The information on this website has been prepared by NiagaraShares.com as a resource to help people with disabilities, seniors and caregivers find what they need to improve their quality of life. We do our best to be as accurate, detailed and up-to-date as possible. If you find an error please contact us. This site relies on public input and we check everything as much as possible but businesses and services close or relocate and don't think to tell us. Always do your homework and call ahead. NiagaraShares.com or any of its sponsors cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions in this site nor can they be held responsible for any inconvenience caused by the information listed.

NiagaraShares.com - Resources for seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers.