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Resources

Awareness

About one in five Americans currently identifies as having a disability, and almost everyone will experience disability at some point in their lifetime. Below are ways you can demonstrate increased sensitivity and awareness of people with disabilities.

Disability and Language

Language shapes the way those around us speak and act toward one another and conveys the respect we have for others. The use of appropriate language about people with disabilities is an important tool in building a community that accepts all people. Appropriate language is both sensitive and accurate. 

Person-First Language

Labeling a person equates the person with a condition and can be disrespectful and dehumanizing. A person isn’t a disability, condition or diagnosis; a person has a disability, condition or diagnosis. This is called Person-First Language. For many years, Arts for All Wisconsin has used “people-first” language.

Identity-First Language

Whenever it is an option to do so, ask to find out an individual’s language preferences. People with disabilities have different preferences when referring to their disability. Some people see their disability as an essential part of who they are and prefer to be identified with their disability first – this is called Identity-First Language. Others prefer Person-First Language. Examples of Identity-First Language include identifying someone as a Deaf person instead of a person who is Deaf, or an autistic person instead of a person with autism.

 

Affirmative Phrase

Person with a disability, people with disabilities


Person with a mental illness


Person who uses a wheelchair


Person with a physical disability; person with a mobility impairment


Student with an IEP or a 504; student in need of adaptations; student receiving Special Educations services

 

Nonaffirmative Phrase

The disabled, disabled person


Mentally ill person; crazy; psycho; lunatic


Confined or restriced to a wheelchair; wheelchair bound


Cripple; lame; handicapped; deformed; spaz


Student with special needs; special needs or differently-abled student

Interacting

In addition to using people first language, it's also important to think about how you interact with people with disabilities (this is great information for interacting with anyone respectfully, too!).

Treat Adults as Adults

Talk to people with disabilities as you would anyone else, at their age level and not below.


Talking About a Person's Disability

Sharing information about a disability is only at the choosing of the individual. Some people are willing, but some are not. Please respect a person's choice to disclose on their terms.


Ask Before Offering Assistance

People with disabilities live in their bodies every day, so don't assume they need help. Ask first.


 

 

Information on this page was adapted, in part, from the following sources: United Spinal Association, the ADA Association, and the Spina Bifida Association