What Do You Call People with Disabilities?
Men, women, boys, girls, students, mom, Sue’s brother, Mr. Smith, Rosita, a neighbor, employer, coworker, customer, chef, teacher, scientist, athlete, adults, children, tourists, retirees, actors, comedians, musicians, blondes, brunettes, SCUBA divers, computer operators, individuals, members, leaders, people, voters, friends or any other word you would use for a person.
People First Language recognizes that individuals with disabilities are – first and foremost – people. It emphasizes each person’s value, individuality, dignity and capabilities. The following examples provide guidance on what terms to use and which ones are inappropriate when talking or writing about people with disabilities.
People First Language |
Instead of Labels that Stereotype and Devalue |
| people/individuals with disabilities
an adult who has a disability a child with a disability a person |
the handicapped
the disabled |
| people/individuals without disabilities | normal people/healthy individuals |
| people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
he/she has a cognitive impairment a person who has Down syndrome |
the mentally retarded; retarded people he/she is retarded; the retarded
moron, idiot, imbecile he/she’s a Downs kid; a Mongoloid; a Mongol |
| a person who has autism | autistic |
| people with a mental illness
a person who has an emotional disability with a psychiatric illness/disability |
the mentally ill; the emotionally disturbed
is insane; crazy; demented; psycho a maniac; lunatic |
| a person who has a learning disability | he/she is learning disabled |
| a person who is deaf
he/she has a hearing loss a man/woman who is hard of hearing |
the deaf |
| person who is deaf and cannot speak
who has a speech disorder uses a communication device uses synthetic speech |
is deaf and dumb
mute |
| a person who is blind
a person who has a visual impairment man/woman who has low vision |
the blind |
| a person who has epilepsy
people with a seizure disorder |
an epileptic
a victim of epilepsy |
| a person who uses a wheelchair
people who have a mobility impairment a person who walks with crutches |
a person who is wheelchair bound
a person who is confined to a wheelchair a cripple |
| a person who has quadriplegia
people with paraplegia |
a quadriplegic
the paraplegic |
| he/she is of small or short stature | a dwarf or midget |
| he/she has a congenital disability | he/she has a birth defect |
| accessible buses, bathrooms, etc.
reserved parking for people with disabilities |
handicapped buses, bathrooms, hotel rooms, etc.
handicapped parking |
