Inclusive Practices
Here are some ways to make sure you and your organization are being inclusive of people with disabilities.
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.
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.
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.
Disability and Language
Language shapes the way those around us speak and act toward one another and conveys the respect we have for others. Using appropriate, sensitive, and accurate language about people with disabilities is important for building a community that accepts all people.
Person with a disability, people with disabilities, Disability community
Person who uses a wheelchair
Person with a mental illness
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
The disabled
Confined or restriced to a wheelchair; wheelchair bound
Mentally ill person; crazy; psycho; lunatic
Cripple; lame; handicapped; deformed; spaz
Student with special needs; special needs or differently-abled student
Nonaffirmative Phrase
Affirmative Phrase
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.
Interacting
In addition to using people first language, it's also important to think about how you interact with people with and without disabilities.