Words, Words, Words!
Sometimes it can be confusing knowing what words are appropriate when talking about disability.
Here’s a rundown on affirming and degrading terminology:
Affirming Words:
Persons with a disability/disabled
Person who has _____ / Person with _____
(Ex: Person who has cerebral palsy)
Survivor
Uses a wheelchair
Typical/Non-disabled
Deaf/Nonvocal/does not voice for themselves
Disabled since birth/born with
Psychiatric history/psychiatric disability/emotional disorder/mental illness
Epilepsy/seizures
Learning disability/mental retardation/developmental delay/ADD/ADHD
Accessible parking/entrance
Degrading Words:
Cripple/handicapped/handicap/invalid
Victim with _____ /Afflicted with ______ (Ex: Victim with cerebral palsy)
Victim
Restricted, confined to a wheelchair/wheelchair bound
(The chair enables mobility and is liberating, not confining.)
Normal (Implies people with disabilities are abnormal.)
Deaf mute/deaf and dumb
Birth defect
Crazy/insane/lunatic/mental patient
Fits
Slow/retarded/lazy/stupid/underachiever
Handicapped parking/entrance
The following are terms that should be avoided because they have negative connotations and tend to
evoke pity and fear:
Disfigured
Tragedy
Physically Challenged
Abnormal
Unfortunate
Manic
Incapacitated
Differently Abled
Moron
Handi-capable
Palsied
Special Needs
Burden
Poor
Spastic
Stricken with
Madman
Pitiful
Maimed
Deformed
Citation: Paraquad, http://www.paraquad.org/
Disability Resource Center, Missouri State University