Outdated Language Respectful Language Words you should NOT use when describing or Words you SHOULD use when describing or ​ ​ ​ ​ talking about a person with a disability: talking about a person with a disability: ● Crazy, insane, Hyper sensitive, Spastic, spaz, ● Mental Health disability unfit, mental ● People with disabilities, younger generation ● Cripple, crip, gimp, lame, Handicapped, often prefers “disabled” challenged, physically challenged, special (in print, use small “d” as opposed to Deaf or needs Autistic which uses upper case “D” or “A”) ● Retarded, slow ● Cognitive or Intellectual disability, learning ● Victim, stricken, poor, unfortunate, suffers from disability, developmental disability (an illness or disability) ● Person living with… ● Wheelchair bound ● Wheelchair user ● Brain damaged ● Traumatic Brain Injury (aka “TBI”) ● Dwarf, midget ● Little person, Someone of short stature ● dumb, Deaf mute ● Deaf (always upper case “D”) or Hard of ● Visually Impaired Hearing (HOH) ● Deformed ● Blind or Low Vision ● Normal ● Person with dexterity issues ● Not disabled, faker ● Non-disabled, Neurotypical ● Invisible disability, Hidden disability Here are some additional guidelines for talking about disability: ● Do not refer to a person's disability unless it is relevant. For example, don’t ask “What’s wrong with ​ you?” or refer to the “girl in the wheelchair”. ​ ​ ● Use "disability" rather than "handicap," “special needs” or “challenged.” The needs of people with ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ disabilities are the same as everyone else, they are just provided differently. ● When talking about or referring to an object use the word “accessible,” for example “accessible parking ​ ​ ​ space.” ● Don't portray people with disabilities as overly courageous, brave, special, or superhuman. This makes it sound like it is unusual for people with disabilities to have talents, skills or to live life like everyone else. ● Do not treat people with disability as “special” or “inspirational.” People with disabilities are just like anyone else and performing a simple task should not be made into a heroic accomplishment. ● Don't use "normal" to describe people who don't have disabilities. It is better to say "people without ​ ​ ​ disabilities”, “non-disabled” or “neurotypical” if necessary to make comparisons. ​ ​ ​ ● The more mature generation tends to prefer people first language: “people with disabilities”, while the ​ ​ younger generation often prefers identity first language: “disabled person”. Respect the language an ​ ​ individual tells you they prefer. ● Many people who are deaf prefer Deaf with an uppercase “D”. Many people who are autistic prefer Autistic with an uppercase “A”. ● Look at and speak directly to the person, not their interpreter, personal attendant or support person. .