Six Top Tips on disability language and terminology

As part of our Top Tips and Helpful Hints series …

What’s in a word?

One of the things which I often come across during my training on disability issues is the question, “What words are we allowed to you?”. Indeed there is often a great deal of confusion when it comes to terminology and language. One of the reasons for that is that language changes over time and what was acceptable say 20 years ago, even 10 years ago, is now considered out-dated and unacceptable.

These six tips are about highlighting some good practice but even before we get into the issue the first and primary statement is that everyone is unique and what might be an acceptable term for one will not be for another – so it is best to be honest and ask someone about anything you might not be sure about yourself.

You are talking to a person first

One of the worst things which happens in society is the tendency to label people – that is even worse if you have a disability. It is important to put the person first. Jane is not a dyslexic – Jane is a person with dyslexia. John is not the autistic child he is a child called John with autism. That might all seem a game of semantics but it highlights how important it is to focus on the person and not the condition/impairment.

Don’t use negative words for a person

Whilst we are on the issue of impairments, try to avoid a phrase like ‘suffers from’ – that may well be true but if you have had a condition all your life you will probably not see it 24/7 as something you suffer rather than something you live with that makes you the person you are. With any disability, avoid negative, disempowering words, like “victim” or , e.g., “person with AIDS” instead of “AIDS victim.”

Don’t use collective words

Do not use collective nouns such as ‘the disabled’ or ‘the blind’ as this implies that these individuals are just their disability and not persons in their own right. It also could imply that they are a separate group of people from the rest of us. More so just as every individual is different so it does no-one any good to treat ‘the disabled’ as if they were one homogeneous group rather than as a vast array of different people.

Try to avoid using out-dated and discriminatory words

Avoid out-dated terms and e.g., do not use the word handicapped. Many people with disabilities find this offensive as it carries the connotation of ‘cap in hand’. Use the words disabled or disabled person instead.

Certainly be aware that many people with disabilities dislike jargon and euphemistic terms like “physically challenged” and “differently abled.” Say “wheelchair user,” rather than “confined to a wheelchair” or “wheelchair bound.” The wheelchair is what enables the person to get around and participate in society.

The word ‘able-bodied’ is also unacceptable as many people with a disability, e.g. those with mental health conditions, are entirely able-bodied, the preferred term is non-disabled.

Be sensitive to some terminology.

The civil rights movement within the disability world is still articulating its struggle and language is a big part of that. Therefore there will be some people with disabilities who proudly use the word ‘disabled’ and there will be others who dislike the term. There will be some who proudly say that they are ‘blind’ whilst others find the phrase ‘visual impairment’ better. In the Deaf community the debate is even deeper. For some people born Deaf it is important that one recognises their distinct identity and language and they often want to use the word Deaf with a capital “D” and yet others prefer deaf with a small ‘d’ or the phrase “hearing impaired.” Again it is about fining out and using the appropriate term for the right person.

Don’t be silent

One of the dangers over a concern for language and terminology is that people clam up and so as not to risk offence decide not to communicate and keep quiet. That is never good. People with disabilities are excluded enough with society. All relationship and communication involves risk – the risk of not being understood, of being rejected, of not being accepted – but without taking the risk of communication there can be in essence no real community.

As part of our work we offer training in the history of disability and mental health conditions and try to explore the meanings behind the words which nowadays people no longer use but don’t know why. Get in touch with us and find out more.

In addition if you have experienced negative use of language share your experience with us or if indeed you are concerned that some of the terms you use are unacceptable but don’t know why drop us a comment or simply e mail us at info@equalanddiverse.com

Dr Donald Macaskill

www.equalanddiverse.co.uk