Improve Language

“People First language” It’s the Person First; Then the Disability

1. What is the proper way to speak to or about someone who does not have a disability?
2. Why say it differently for a person with a disability?

Tips for improving language related to Disabilities and Handicaps

1. Speak of the person first, than the disability
2. Emphasize abilities, not limitations
3. Do not label people as part of a disability group—don’t say “the disable.” Say “people with disabilities.”
4. Don’t give excessive praise or attention to a person with a disability are don’t patronized.
5. Choice and independence are important; let the person do or speak for himself of herself as much as possibilities.
6. If addressing an adult say “Bill” instead of “Billy”
7. A disability is a functional limitation that interferes with a person’s ability to walk, hear, learn, etc. A handicap describes a situation or barrier imposed by society, the environment, or oneself
8. Focus on what the person can do and not on what they can’t do. Each participant can add excitement and variety to the group and/or program.

Consider the Impact of our Language:

Instead of	Say.
Disabled or handicapped child	Child with a disability
Palsied, spastic	Person with cerebral palsy
Afflicted, suffers from	Person who has
Mute or dumb	Without speech, nonverbal
Slow	Developmental delay
Crazy, Insane	Mental illness
Confined to a wheelchair	Uses a wheelchair
Retard, mental	Person with retardation
Mongoloid	With down syndrome
Normal	Without a disability
Crippled	Has a physical disability
Invalid	Paralyzed
The Blind	Visually impaired