Its the kind of situation where if you are part of the group you can use it for yourselves, but from other peoples mouths its an insult. It also groups all parties into one term, despite potential differences in the way they are engaged or interact with a project or activity. The term disability is perceived as negative and not politically correct. Ugly is ugly and kindness prevails always! Comment: Terms are inaccurate, demeaning. A disability is any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or effectively interact with the world around them (socially or materially). Denies other aspects of the person. 4. Nothing about disability indicates ability (see. And then the person over in that group over there is going to tell you its all balderdash anyway. The meaning of POLITICALLY CORRECT is conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated. My oldest childhood friend is a person with a disability. They werent viewed as insults at the time. Totally agree. That makes it tricky, you know, for allies to the disabled/Down syndrome parent community. Note that it is widely used as a legal term in documents, on signs, etc. "Person with a Disability" is a more inclusive, less biased term to describe someone who is disabled . For example, consider: People with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some tips on behaviour. While some words/phrases are commonly used by many, including those with disabilities, usage is likely due to habit rather than intentional meaning. Use disabled people not the disabled as the collective term. Exploring disability practices, policy, politics, and culture. In the UK, for instance, they prefer the phrase "disabled people". The term has often been used derisively . People are individuals and deserve to be mentioned before or instead of their possible disabilities. Avoid using vulnerable when describing people with disabilities. And looking back, person first language seems to have been promoted mostly by non-disabled people for our benefit, not by us. We are carefully taught by one wave of credible activists and diversity consultants to say people with disabilities, only to be told by a later generation of disabled people that this diminishes the experience and meaning of disability, and is in any case awkward and a little condescending. Similarly, placing people with disabilities on a pedestal ("You are so brave to keep trying despite your disability! [/vc_message][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]When I first started my job at UC Berkeley, coordinating a program in conjunction with the state of California, Read More The Gift of a Moment: Understanding Difficult Times and ChoicesContinue, Anyone who says, its just a word is forgetting that the pen is mightier than the sword, forgetting that words wound more deeply than any knife could. I suggest you read the entire essay. Not all people who have had a mental or emotional disability have it forever or to the same degree all the time. As a Deaf person with Parkinsons and the father of two sons with Autism, I thank you for this well-thought out and written article. OMG thats so annoying. The contentious debate never seems to end over what are the right and wrong words and phrases to use to discuss anything to do with disabilities and disabled people. The term mental retardation was introduced to replace words like "idiot" and "imbecile" that were used in the past to identify people with certain levels of intelligence. Rather than using terms such as disabled person, handicapped people, a crippled person, use terms such as people/persons with disabilities, a person with a disability, or a person with a visual impairment. Answer (1 of 5): I think handicapped is more commonly disliked because some people think the etymology is "cap in hand" i.e. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Calling my son anything else does not make him any less disabled. Dunn is the author or editor of 29 books and over 150 journal articles, chapters and book reviews. Identity-first language promotes use of phrases like "amputee," "diabetic" and "disabled person" (but not "victim" or similar negative words) where disability identity comes first. Some writers and scholars from the field known as disability studies, as well as advocates and activists from disability culture, prefer what is known as identity-first language for disability. For example, a statement comparing parents with parents of color implies that White parents are the norm against which others (parents of color) are compared. Over the years, with a lot of self maturity I learned to share my disability so that others would not just deem me rude when I didnt respond to them. ), More Appropriate: people with disabilities, deaf people, blind people, persons with a developmental disability, Less Appropriate: Sue is an arthritic, diabetic, paraplegic. First, what does disability itself mean? Hear, hear! All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. A already noted, the power to define how we talk about ourselves is crucial in deciding which terms and language constructions should and shouldnt be used. . It is a means through which many of us live our lives, a platform of existence. Meriah, thank you for capturing and describing the angst of so many of us who wish to be sensitive in todays turbulent social bullying environment! The reasoning goes like this: Phrases like "disabled person" or "amputee" focus on a condition more than the person who is affected by it. Consider the audience when determining the appropriate term(s) to use. Washington, D.C.: Author. Word and phrases that have been accepted and entered into our day to day vocabulary that enhance the inclusion of individuals or groups of people, usually found in minorities in our societies and communities. Despite my best efforts and intentions, I still am only a parent and not a disabled person. Within context, there shouldnt be any confusion about it referring to the Asian country, India. Evolving terminology allows . And others need to recognize the limits of their power to regulate this practice. Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3, confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair-bound, mentally handicapped, mentally defective, retarded, subnormal, with a learning disability (singular) with learning disabilities (plural), people with visual impairments; blind people; blind and partially sighted people, an epileptic, diabetic, depressive, and so on, person with epilepsy, diabetes, depression or someone who has epilepsy, diabetes, depression, someone with restricted growth or short stature, use a normal tone of voice, dont patronise or talk down, dont be too precious or too politically correct being super-sensitive to the right and wrong language and depictions will stop you doing anything, never attempt to speak or finish a sentence for the person you are talking to, address disabled people in the same way as you talk to everyone else, speak directly to a disabled person, even if they have an interpreter or companion with them. Inaccurate reference; a person is NOT a condition. It would be pretty hilarious if someone talked about "African-American-Europeans". More Appropriate: Bob has polio, has a spinal cord injury, has AIDS, Less Appropriate: confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair-bound, wheel-chaired. Recognize obviously insulting terms and stop using or tolerating them. "Impaired" means weakened, diminished, or damaged. So, what do you do? More Appropriate: mental disability, behavior disorder, emotional disability, mentally restored, Less Appropriate: retard, a person with mental retardation, slow, simple-minded, idiot, Mongoloid. Pay attention to the words adults with disabilities use most often. The other strives to be more sober, but also elegant and comfortable when spoken and written. They are not necessarily more politically correct., More Appropriate: a person has a physical, sensory or mental disability, Less Appropriate: inspirational, courageous. And yes, by law this is their right. Disabled people needto get access to community transit, theaters, restaurants, swimming pools, shopping malls, and everything else that you and I access without even thinking about it. Nothing is ever 100%. Bear in mind, of course, that some challenges remain. Some examples of person-first language include saying: As a result, a less charged term is more apt. "They are retarded" becomes "They are people with developmental disabilities.". Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. CDC twenty four seven. Her scholarship is focused on disability issues in psychology, including social justice in reproduction and parenting, disability as diversity and the prevalence disability in the field of psychology. So the correct term is " Disability Rights .". Disability and disabled work elegantly simply to describe the shared social identity of all people who have any kind of disability. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. Politically correct words or terms are used to show differences between people or groups in a non-offensive way. But many disabled people increasingly feel that their disabilities are not invaders or merely inconvenient attributes, but something more central to who they are. Its a way of experiencing the world. But its widespread use as a generic term for a set of common experiences and social positions make these terms as close to value neutral as can be possible, and therefore useful in the much more achievable goals of accurate identification, equality, and basic respect. Is there a way for anyone to navigate disability language clearly, safely, and respectfully? The Down syndrome community is sick of it, the greater (cross-disability) disability is sick of it, and there we go. Avoid passive, victim words. Finally, non-disabled people shouldn't lecture disabled people on correct terminology. Humanizingphrases emphasize the person even if the adjective of the disability is included. Person with . Comment: Terms create a false impression: wheelchairs liberate, not confine or bind; they are mobility tools from which people transfer to sleep, sit in other chairs, drive cars, stand, etc. The Down syndrome community simmers down. Synonyms for DISABLED: impaired, challenged, deaf, blind, paralyzed, differently abled, exceptional, incapacitated; Antonyms of DISABLED: nondisabled, abled . The group urges using positive language that avoids referring to people with disabilities as "the disabled, the blind, the epileptics, a quadriplegic," etc. I wasn't able to work anymore. Use as a descriptive noun or adjective, such as person living with AIDS, woman who is blind. Here's why you shouldn't use them, and what to say instead. The following is intended as suggestion, not censorship, in choosing more appropriate terms. Person issecondary to disability. Moron, idiot, cretin, mongo all fall under that as well as retard. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Im allowed to call myself a spaz. But just like those derogatory words, the term "retardation" has become an insult, along with . Even as I describe people as being visually impaired, I have already stepped into word doo-doo. Solo mom to 3 (one with Down syndrome, one on the spectrum). Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Part of an identity. I think the important thing though is NOT whether either is "politically correct" but what is helpful or hurtful! Is that person over there going to jump on me? Saving Lives, Protecting People, Race and Ethnic Standards for Federal Statistics and Administrative Reporting, Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, People/persons who are incarcerated or detained (often used for shorter jail stays, for youth in detention facilitiesor for other persons awaiting immigration proceedingsin detention facilities), Persons detained by or under the custody of (specify agency) (for example, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] or other agencies), Confined to a wheelchair or wheelchair-bound, People who are deaf or hard of hearing or who are blind or have low vision, People with an intellectual or developmental disability, People who use a wheelchair or mobility device. The preferred version is "disabled.". Organizations that value differences reflect it in their communication. The commenter was concerned that blanket use of the new term by various entities . When will people realize how precious our Downs community is, and how much they have to teach the rest of us about loving kindness. Members of Deaf culture want their label to be capitalized with a "D," which is a means for establishing unity and community. For example, the National Federation for the Blind has long advocated for identity-firstlanguage, preferring "blind person" over the person-firstconstructions like "individual with blindness" or "person who is blind." Avoid medical labels. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. For instance, one person who has dwarfism might like to be referred to as a "dwarf," whereas another might prefer to be called a "person with dwarfism." The terms used for people with disabilities all too frequently perpetuate stereotypes and false ideas. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. What is another word for mentally challenged? Now that we know the distinction between disability and handicap, how do we refer people who have disabilities? How is a world okay? Within its "Publication Manual," the APA also urges writers as well as speakers to avoid using any language that refers to disability in a deleterious or pejorative manner. If your key groups are organizations or people directly involved in the project/activity, use terms that describe the nature of their influence or involvement. Healthcare Access & Access to Services and Resources, Non-U.S.-born Persons / Immigration Status, People Who are at Increased / Higher Risk, Working Partners & Community Collaborators, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 56. That doesnt make their needs special and when we set the tone that they are special needs, it minimizes their rights. Paralyzed, spastic, and victim are no longer used terms. I will always continue to call people what they prefer to be called. Everyone is somewhere different in their journey, their life. Use language that respects disabled people as active individuals with control over their own lives. Andrews is the director of psychology training for the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. We do know that at some point, some people decided that terms like "deaf" or "blind" were derogatory, negative, and should not be used. We choose the words we want to use for ourselves, not others! (The debate over the use of handicap versus disabled has not been settled. Background: The Oxford English dictionary defines an invalid as . Its not something special we do for them. A disability is a condition or quality linked to a particular person. Person-first terminology is used . It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Alternative words to the term disability are usually efforts to avoid the negative stigma ATTACHED to the word rather than seeing disability as neutral. It has led to my own personal empowerment because most of my growing up years involved me being ashamed of my hearing handicapped status as I was mainstreamed in public schools and often the ONLY deaf person in the class. People should be allowed to use terms that mean something to them. And that is, But my daughter cannot speak, so I have no way of knowing her preferences. That is, its person-first language a person with a disability until the person sees disability as an identity, then it becomes identify first. Dumb, mute ; Person who cannot speak, has difficulty speaking, uses synthetic speech, is non-vocal, non-verbal . Wheelchair user is now a term that has been coined. A politically correct word or expression is used instead of another one to avoid being offensive: Some people think that "fireman" is a sexist term, and prefer the politically correct term "firefighter."