People with disabilities should be treated with respect and dignity, like everyone else. The person is not their disability. Recognize it is important to use positive language when communicating with or referring to people who have disability.
If you are unsure about how to refer to someone with a disability and the opportunity presents itself, just ask the person. They generally will be happy to assist you.
(create chart for examples of positive language – use corresponds to don’t use)
People with disabilities
People who use wheelchairs or wheelchair user
People who are blind or have low vision
People with mobility disabilities
People with a mental illness
Person who has schizophrenia
People with cognitive disabilities
People who are deaf hard of hearing
Person who has epilepsy
Person with a congenital disability
Person who has quadriplegia or paraplegia
The handicapped
Confined to a wheelchair or wheelchair bound
The blind
Gimp, cripple
Insane, crazy, psycho, nuts
Schizophrenic
Moron or retard
Deaf and dumb or mute
An epileptic or a victim of epilepsy
He/she has a birth defect
A quadriplegic or paraplegic
VSA arts of Texas is always looking for people to join us in our goal of assisting arts organizations to achieve maximum accessibility.
Contact us for more information on how you can help.