Hints for Using Correct Terminology
Sourced from the Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities website.
Very useful information and tips.
|
USE |
AVOID |
REASON |
| Persons with disabilities. Disabled people |
Physically challenged. Differently abled |
The disability rights movement of South Africa accepts both these terms |
| Johnny is a child with cerebral palsy | Johnny suffers from cerebral palsy. Johnny is afflicted with cerebral palsy. Johnny is a victim of cerebral palsy |
All 3 cast disabilities as negative. “Suffers from“ indicates ongoing pain and torment, which is not the case for most people with disabilities. “Afflicted with“ denotes a disease, which most disabilities are not. “Victim of” implies that a crime is being committed on the person who has a disability. |
| ‘uses a wheelchair’ | ‘wheelchair bound’ or ‘confined to a wheelchair’ |
People see their wheelchairs as a convenient mode of transportation, not prisons, and the “bound/confined” phrase belies the fact that many people with motor disabilities engage in activities without their wheelchairs, including driving and sleeping. |
| ‘disability’ | ‘handicap’ ‘cripple(d)’ Differently abled ‘physically/mentally challenged (who isn’t?) |
The word “handicap” derives from the phrase “cap in hand”, referring to a beggar, and is despised by most people with disabilities. |
| ‘able-bodied’ ‘people without disabilities’ |
‘normal’ ‘whole’ |
These terms are inappropriate and inaccurate. |
| ‘client’ ‘customer’ |
‘patient’ | Most disabilities are not a disease. Do not call person with a disability a “patient” unless referring to a hospital setting. In an occupational and physical therapy context, “client” or “customer” is preferred. |
| ‘person living with AIDS’ Person with diabetes |
‘AIDS victim’ ‘she’s a diabetic’ |
Some diseases by legal definition are considered disabilities. Victimization imagery or defining the person by the disease is inappropriate. |
| Deaf | ‘Deaf-mute’ ‘Deaf and dumb’ |
People who consider themselves as part of Deaf culture refer to themselves as “Deaf” with a capital “D”. Because their culture derives from their language, they may be identified in the same way as other cultural groups, for example “Shangaan”. |
| ‘born without arms’ ‘congenital disability’ |
‘deformed’ ‘deformity’ ‘birth defect’ |
A person may be “born without arms” or “has a congenital disability,” but is probably not defective. |
| ‘person with Down’s Syndrome’ ‘person with cerebral palsy’ ‘person with epilepsy’ |
‘Mongol’ ‘Mongoloid’ ‘cerebral palsied’ ‘spastic’ ‘epileptic’ |
These terms define the person by their condition, and should be avoided at all costs. Hint: Always refer to the person first, and then the disability |
| “person with an intellectual disability”, or “person with a psychiatric disability” |
‘mentally retarded’ ‘insane’ ‘brain damaged’ |
These terms have a negative connotation. |
http://www.wcapd.org.za/index.php/community-awareness/