Inclusive language: words to use and avoid when writing about disability
Updated 15 March 2021
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Consider these guidelines when communicating with or about disabled people.
1. Language guidelines
Not everyone will agree on everything but there is general agreement on some basic guidelines.
1.1 Collective terms and labels
The word 鈥榙isabled鈥� is a description not a group of people. Use 鈥榙isabled people鈥� not 鈥榯he disabled鈥� as the collective term.
However, many deaf people whose first language is BSL consider themselves part of 鈥榯he deaf community鈥� 鈥� they may describe themselves as 鈥楧eaf鈥�, with a capital D, to emphasise their deaf identity.
Avoid medical labels. They say little about people as individuals and tend to reinforce stereotypes of disabled people as 鈥榩atients鈥� or unwell.
Don鈥檛 automatically refer to 鈥榙isabled people鈥� in all communications 鈥� many people who need disability benefits and services don鈥檛 identify with this term. Consider using 鈥榩eople with health conditions or impairments鈥� if it seems more appropriate.
1.2 Positive not negative
Avoid phrases like 鈥榮uffers from鈥� which suggest discomfort, constant pain and a sense of hopelessness.
Wheelchair users may not view themselves as 鈥榗onfined to鈥� a wheelchair 鈥� try thinking of it as a mobility aid instead.
1.3 Everyday phrases
Most disabled people are comfortable with the words used to describe daily living. People who use wheelchairs 鈥榞o for walks鈥� and people with visual impairments may be very pleased 鈥� or not 鈥� 鈥榯o see you鈥�. An impairment may just mean that some things are done in a different way.
Common phrases that may associate impairments with negative things should be avoided, for example 鈥榙eaf to our pleas鈥� or 鈥榖lind drunk鈥�.
2. Words to use and avoid
Avoid passive, victim words. Use language that respects disabled people as active individuals with control over their own lives.
| Avoid | Use |
|---|---|
| (the) handicapped, (the) disabled | disabled (people) |
| afflicted by, suffers from, victim of | has [name of condition or impairment] |
| confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair-bound | wheelchair user |
| mentally handicapped, mentally defective, retarded, subnormal | with a learning disability (singular) with learning disabilities (plural) |
| cripple, invalid | disabled person |
| spastic | person with cerebral palsy |
| able-bodied | non-disabled |
| mental patient, insane, mad | person with a mental health condition |
| deaf and dumb; deaf mute | deaf, user of British Sign Language (BSL), person with a hearing impairment |
| the blind | people with visual impairments; blind people; blind and partially sighted people |
| an epileptic, diabetic, depressive, and so on | person with epilepsy, diabetes, depression or someone who has epilepsy, diabetes, depression |
| dwarf; midget | someone with restricted growth or short stature |
| fits, spells, attacks | seizures |
3. Some tips on behaviour
- use a normal tone of voice, don鈥檛 patronise or talk down
- don鈥檛 be too precious or too politically correct 鈥� being super-sensitive to the right and wrong language and depictions will stop you doing anything
- never attempt to speak or finish a sentence for the person you are talking to
- address disabled people in the same way as you talk to everyone else
- speak directly to a disabled person, even if they have an interpreter or companion with them