Disability language guidelines

15-00399

Introduction

Disability is a complex concept and its terminology has evolved substantially over recent years,

in particular following the adoption of the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities (CRPD).

The present document is intended to provide staff of the Economic and Social

Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) with guidelines on appropriate disability language and terminology

for use in publications, presentations and other outputs. This document will be a continuous work in

progress, to be regularly updated in light of any comments or suggestions received, as well as any new

developments in international thinking and discourse on disability.

Definitions

The below definition is in line with the CRPD and the International Classification of Functioning,

Disability and Health (ICF), both of which broadly define disability not simply as an impairment, injury or

illness, but rather as a complex interaction between a person’s health condition and environmental and other

contextual factors. The World Report on Disability states that “defining disability as an interaction means

that ‘disability’ is not an attribute of the person. Progress on improving social participation can be made by

addressing the barriers which hinder persons with disabilities in their everyday lives”.

When referring to persons with disabilities, it is important to distinguish between the terms

‘impairment’ and ‘disability’.

Impairment: Problems in body function or body structure, such as a significant deviation or loss. Body

functions are the physiological functions of body systems (including psychological

functions), and body structures are anatomical parts of the body, such as organs and limbs.

Disability: Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual

or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and

effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

In other words, the term impairment refers to a person’s physical, mental, intellectual or sensory

condition(s), while disability is the interaction between a person’s impairment and their environment.

A person can have more than one impairment, and impairments are not always visible nor do they

necessarily lead to disability.

Adopted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 61/106, along with the Optional Protocol to the Convention. Both

entered into force on 3 May 2008.

World Health Organization and World Bank, World Report on Disability, Geneva, 2011, p. 4. Available from

www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/report.pdf.

World Health Organization, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Available from

www.who.int/classifications/icf/en/.

CRPD, article 1.

General guidelines

1. Use respectful language

As we all know, language matters and the way in which we refer to or describe things has the power

to convey certain messages, values and attitudes. By using positive and respectful language when referring

to disability, we are helping to promote principles such as equality, inclusiveness and respect for diversity.

2. Use ‘person-first’ language

Many people with disabilities have expressed unease at being described using person-second

terminology, seeing this as devaluing them as people and implying that the most significant thing about them

is their disability. As such, it is advised to adopt people-first disability terminology, e.g. persons or people

with disabilities and not disabled persons or people (notable exception: deaf people or persons).

In line with

person-first language, there are several additional considerations to take into account, namely:

 The use of the acronym ‘PWD’ for persons with disabilities is not appropriate. This should always

be written in full to keep the focus on people, and not as a homogenous group reduced to

an acronym. In general, acronyms are to be avoided when using disability terminology.

 The disabled is also not an appropriate term. It gives a false impression of persons with

disabilities as being a homogenous group, rather than a diverse and heterogeneous group with

different abilities, interests, needs and voices.

Avoid the terms ‘victim’ and ‘sufferer’, for example, ‘suffering from blindness’ or ‘victim of

disability’. This implies someone is helpless or passive. The exception would be in the context of mines and

explosive remnants of war (ERW), where there is broad consensus around promoting the terms ‘victim’ and

‘survivor’. Victim assistance, as reflected in both the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster

Munitions, refers to addressing the human rights of all individuals injured or killed by mines/ERW as well as

their affected family members and communities.

3. Avoid outdated or negative terminology

Terms like ‘handicapped’, ‘crippled’ and ‘mentally retarded’ are outdated and offensive. Use instead

the term ‘persons with disabilities’ or, when referring to a particular type of disability, use person-first

language with a neutral description or clinical name for the disability, such as ‘persons with physical

impairments’ or ‘a person with Down syndrome’.

4. Avoid euphemisms and ‘normal’ terminology

Euphemisms such as ‘differently-abled’ and ‘physically challenged’ are often perceived by persons

with disabilities as overly politically correct and patronizing. Instead, use person-first terms such as ‘persons

with disabilities’ or ‘a person with physical disability’. In the same vein, be careful with the word ‘special’,

such as ‘persons with special needs’. Such terms imply that accommodation is exceptional or that

persons with disabilities are somehow receiving ‘special treatment’, when it is rather the duty of society

to enable persons with disabilities to participate in society on an equal basis. It can sometimes be helpful to

say ‘persons with disabilities and their peers without disabilities’. This reinforces the idea of being equal in

age, skill or another category. However, using ‘normal’ terminology (i.e. comparing or referring to normality

when talking about disability) is unacceptable. Diversity is a fact of life and using these comparisons

reinforces false perceptions of persons with disabilities as abnormal or outsiders. Difference is normal.

For more information, see World Federation of the Deaf. Available from www.wfdeaf.org/our-work/focus/areas/deaf-

culture.

5. Do not sensationalize

While it is important to recognize the achievements of persons with disabilities, be careful not to

sensationalize them. Overemphasis can be perceived as patronizing or as giving the impression that such

achievements are unexpected or out of the ordinary, when most persons with disabilities have the same range

of skills and abilities as persons without disabilities.

Disability terminology

Use

Avoid the use of

Singular: A person with disability; a person with

[physical/sensory/etc.] impairment/disability

Plural: Persons/people with [physical/sensory]

disabilities

Afflicted by/suffering from/victim of disability; the

disabled; unfortunate; cripple/crippled; the physically

disabled; physically challenged person; disabled people;

the handicapped; invalid; incapacitated; PWD/PWDs

Singular: A person without disability

Plural: Persons/people without disabilities

Ordinary people; able-bodied/normal people; the normal;

people living normal lives

Impairment; disability

Problem; handicap

Singular: Person who uses a wheelchair

Plural: Persons/people who use wheelchairs

Person bound/confined to a wheelchair; wheelchair

person

Singular: A person with low vision; a person who

is blind

Plural: Persons/people with low vision or

persons/people who are blind

The blind; problems with sight

Singular: A person who is hard of hearing; a deaf/Deaf

person

Plural: Persons who are hard of hearing/Deaf people

The deaf; the hard of hearing; deaf and dumb

Singular: A person with speech disability

Plural: Persons/people with speech disabilities

Dumb; dumb person/people; mute/mute person; speech

impaired person; problems with talking; the speech

impaired

Singular: A person with intellectual disability

Plural: Persons/people with intellectual disabilities

Mentally retarded/handicapped; mentally challenged;

slow; intellectually disabled; PWID

Singular: A person with a mental health condition

Plural: Persons with mental health conditions

Insanity; insane; lunatic; mentally sick; mentally

imbalanced; mad person; mentally ill person; psycho;

crazy people

Personal assistants

Carers (meaning paid home carers)

Accessible parking spaces, buildings, etc.

Disabled/handicapped parking spaces, buildings, etc.

Persons with disabilities; ensuring equal rights

People with special needs; accommodation of special

needs

REFERENCES

UNRWA (2013). Disability Toolkit. Available from www.unrwa.org/userfiles/file/disability%202/

DISABILITY%20TOOLKIT%20English.pdf.

UNICEF. Disability Orientation. Available from www.unicef.org/disabilities/index_71294.html.

English Federation of Disability Sport. Disability models and language. Available from

www.efds.co.uk/resources/case_studies/578_disability_models_and_language.

Feministe. Disability terminology: a starter kit for nondisabled people and the media. Available from

www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2010/06/18/disability-terminology-a-starter-kit-for-nondisabled-people-

and-the-media/.

Handicap International (2009). Mainstreaming Disability into Disaster Risk Reduction. Available from

www.handicap-international.org.uk/Resources/Handicap%20International/PDF%20Documents/HI%

20Associations/MainstreamingDisDisasterRiskRedu_2009.pdf.