The Language of Disabilities

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Many people refer to those with disabilities as “disabled or handicapped’, ‘mute’, ‘dumb’, ‘blind person or the blind’, ‘deaf person or the deaf’, ‘retarded’, ‘crazy’, ‘demented’, ‘insane’, ‘psycho’ or ‘mentally retarded’. People with disabilities prefer that you focus on their individuality, not their disability, unless, of course, it is the topic about which you are writing or speaking about. Never use the article “the” with an adjective to describe people with disabilities. The preferred usage, "people with disabilities," stresses the importantance of individuals with disabilities and avoids discrimination. Always make sure that you use the appropriate terms to refer to a person's disability. The term "disabled people" is acceptable, but note that this term still defines people as disabled first, and people second. Do NOT refer to people who are deaf as ‘the deaf’, but as people who are deaf, or hearing impaired. Do NOT refer to people who are blind as ‘the visually impaired’, but as people who are visually impaired and do NOT refer to people with disabilities as ‘the disabled’, but people with disabilities. Be careful not to imply either that people with disabilities are to be pitied, feared, or ignored, or that they are somehow more heroic, courageous, patient or "special" than others. Never use the term "normal" in contrast. Never use the terms "victim" or "sufferer" to refer to a person who has or has had ...

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