Talking about disabilities? Words matter

Words matter!

There are many things that shape how people talk about others with disabilities. It may be that they lack knowledge, have a fear of the unknown, don’t have experience or a personal point of reference with the disability or have received incorrect or distorted information about it.

Any of us who speak (or write) about people with disabilities are important messengers. Beyond physical descriptions and therapeutic solutions, disabilities aren’t about limitations and restrictions. In fact, they are about abilities and opportunities. That is, if we communicate the stories correctly.

Are you good at talking about disability accurately? When we take time to be mindful of our language and commit to expressing people’s stories with understanding and awareness, we play a vital part in changing the narrative about disabilities.

Here are some things Easterseals wants you to know about disabilities language. Get these right and you’ll be part of the true movement toward understanding the limitless possibilities of people, no matter any label the world has attached to them.

1. Use person-first language. That means we say or write “people with disabilities” instead of “disables persons” or “person with epilepsy” instead of “an epileptic.”
2. When referring to an individual with a disability, use “disability,” not “handicapped.”
3. Remember and illustrate that people with disabilities are contributing members of society and have strengths and weaknesses just as any human being does.
4. Not all disabilities are seen with the naked eye, and some are not easily recognized.
5. Never use words “victim,” “crippled,” “afflicted by,” “invalid,” “normal,” or “patient” when portraying a person with a disability.
6. A person is not bound by an assistive device, for example, a wheelchair. We say “uses a wheelchair” instead of he / she is “wheelchair bound.”

When in doubt about as to how a person with a disability likes to be referred, ask them. Consider that oftentimes a disability isn’t even a vital piece of information to share about a person.  When we can see beyond a disability to see the individual, we can know with more certainty that we are on the right track.

See the person, not the ability, and there’s a great chance you’ll say or write it right every time; you’ll be able to tell stories with a contagious awareness that will enlighten and educate others.
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Words matter! 

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