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MIND YOUR WORDS


MIND YOUR WORDS


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“Sticks and stones may break my bones,” as the saying goes, but words can do a
lot of damage, too. They can also do a world of good. While the discussion about
what language is best for discussing disability, Andrew Pulrang at Forbes has
some tips:



State the facts. “Disabled” isn’t a dirty word. And depending on the context and
who’s involved in the conversation, it’s okay to be specific about which
disability you’re talking about.



Don’t be condescending. “Disabled” doesn’t mean defective or incompetent, so
avoid making assumptions about someone’s abilities. Instead, let them speak for
themselves.



Respect the preferences of those living with a disability. If you aren’t sure
what language a person living with a disability prefers, open communication is
both respectful and important so everyone’s on the same page.



Know the difference between “people-first” language and “identity-first”
language. People-first language means referring to people with disabilities. For
example, we’d say “John is a person with a learning disability” or “Camilla is a
person who uses a wheelchair.” Identity-first language centers the person’s
identity: “a blind person” or “a deaf athlete.”

Word choice matters. Consider the difference between saying someone is a
“wheelchair user” versus calling them “wheelchair-bound” or “confined to a
wheelchair.” The first recognizes that they aren’t trapped by their mobility
device and instead are free to move around on their own. The second choices make
it seem as though the wheelchair is a hardship instead of an assistive device.

Take Action: Check yourself and keep others accountable as well. Words like
“crazy” and “lame” creep into our daily language without much thought. But once
you’re aware of them and how using such language might hurt others, try to
replace them with other words.


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