Disability terminology: Preferred words and phrases
Disability terminology: Preferred words and phrasesAttended a Web accessibility seminar last weekend and got some pointers on which words and phrases would be acceptable to people with disabilities. Here's a partial list:
- Do not use "disabled" as a class noun (e.g. "the disabled
are..."
, instead use "disabled people" or
"people with disabilities" - Also, do not use "handicapped" or "invalid" when referring to disabled people
- The preferred antonym for "disabled" is "non-disabled", not "able-bodied" or "normal"
- Use deaf and speech-disabled instead of "deaf and dumb" or "deaf-mute"
- Use hard of hearing when the hearing loss is partial
- Use mobility disability instead of "limp" or "lameness"
- Use visually disabled to refer to people who cannot see.(An acceptable antonym would be non-visually disabled or sighted).
- Barrier - obstacle preventing a person with a disability from accessing information
- Equalization - people with disabilities taking their rightful place alongside non-disabled people
Here's a detailed list from Accessibility Ontario.
Permalink | Monday, October 20, 2003
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