Inclusion For All™

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Using People First Language

Addressing/Talking About an Individual with a Disability

What is “people first” language?

· Talking about the person first, then their disability

· Emphasizing abilities, not limitations

· Avoiding labels/grouping—say “people with disabilities,” instead of “the disabled”

· Don’t patronize or call extra attention to an individual with a disability

· Let people speak for themselves as much as possible. Ask someone how they would like to be addressed

· “Handicap” should be used to describe a situation or barrier imposed by society, not a person

Examples of “people first” language:

Say… Instead of…

· child with a disability disabled or handicapped child

· a person who has… afflicted, suffers from, victim of

· nonverbal mute or dumb

· developmental delay slow

· emotional disorder or mental illness crazy

· has a learning disability is learning disabled

· uses a wheelchair confined to a wheelchair

· person with Down Syndrome retard / mongoloid

· child without a disability normal / healthy

· has a physical disability crippled

· condition disease (unless it is a disease)

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