{"id":6249,"date":"2022-06-07T10:31:05","date_gmt":"2022-06-07T08:31:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disabilityconnect.co.za\/?p=6249"},"modified":"2022-06-07T10:31:05","modified_gmt":"2022-06-07T08:31:05","slug":"what-is-the-preferred-terminology-in-addressing-a-disabled-person","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/2022\/06\/07\/what-is-the-preferred-terminology-in-addressing-a-disabled-person\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the preferred terminology in addressing a disabled person?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The correct terminology used to address a disabled person can be used as a powerful tool to facilitate change and bring about new values, attitudes, and social integration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compiled by Tarren Bolton<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Condensed from \u2018Disability Definitions, Models and Terminology \u2013 <\/em>Western Cape Government<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Language reflects the social context in which it is developed and used. It therefore reflects the values and attitudes of that context and plays an important role in reinforcing values and attitudes that lead to discrimination and segregation of particular groups in society. This is particularly true for people living with a disability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are varying preferences regarding disability terminology, there are some terms which should never be used as they are not respectful of disabled people. We bring you a list of appropriate terms to use and provide some practical guidance and explanation for terms no longer in use, as well as the recommended alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SA examples of the preferred terminology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Western Cape Government\u2019s<\/a> Disability Definitions, Models and Terminology <\/em>publication (2022), the definition and classification of disabled persons has gone through a number of changes over the centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although some disabled people prefer the terms \u2018physically challenged\u2019 or \u2018differently abled\u2019, these should not generally be used. The disability rights movement of South Africa accepts both the terms \u2018disabled person\u2019 and \u2018people with disabilities\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The publication states that one should avoid terms like \u2018suffers from,\u2019 \u2018afflicted with\u2019 or \u2018victim of\u2019, all of which cast disabilities as a negative. \u2018Suffers from\u2019 indicates ongoing pain and torment, which is no more the case for most people with disabilities as it is for most people without disabilities. \u2018Afflicted with\u2019 denotes a disease, which most disabilities are not. \u2018Victim of\u2019 implies that a crime is being committed on the person who has a disability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not use \u2018wheelchair-bound\u2019 or \u2018confined to a wheelchair\u2019. People see their wheelchairs as a convenient mode of transportation, not prisons, and the \u2018bound\/confined\u2019 phrase belies the fact that many people with motor disabilities engage in activities without their wheelchairs, including driving and sleeping. The proper phrase is \u2018uses a wheelchair\u2019. Wheelchair users may not view themselves as \u2018confined to\u2019 a wheelchair \u2013 try thinking of it as a mobility aid instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use \u2018disability\u2019 not \u2018handicap.\u2019 The word \u2018handicap\u2019 derives from the phrase \u2018cap in hand\u2019, referring to a beggar, and is despised by most people with disabilities. Other terms to avoid are \u2018physically\/mentally challenged\u2019 (who isn’t?) \u2018cripple\u2019 or \u2018crippled.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use \u2018able-bodied\u2019 or \u2018people without disabilities.\u2019 The terms \u2018normal\u2019 and \u2018whole\u2019 are inappropriate and inaccurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most disabilities are not a disease. Do not call person with a disability a \u2018patient\u2019 unless referring to a hospital setting. In an occupational and physical therapy context, \u2018client\u2019 or \u2018customer\u2019 is preferred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, the term \u2018hearing impaired\u2019 is no longer in use. Deaf people are proud of their identity as a cultural and linguistic group and do not see it as an impairment, so the correct term to use when referring to them is \u2018deaf\u2019. People who consider themselves as part of Deaf culture refer to themselves as \u2018Deaf\u2019 with a capital \u2018D\u2019. Because their culture derives from their language, they may be identified in the same way as other cultural groups, for example \u2018Shangaan\u2019. Never use the terms Deaf-mute or Deaf and Dumb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid \u2018deformed,\u2019 \u2018deformity\u2019 and \u2018birth defect\u2019. A person may be \u2018born without arms\u2019 or \u2018has a congenital disability,\u2019 but is probably not defective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use \u2018person with Down syndrome.\u2019 Avoid \u2018Mongol\u2019 or \u2018mongoloid.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid \u2018mentally retarded\u2019, \u2018insane\u2019, \u2018slow learner\u2019, \u2018learning disabled\u2019 and \u2018brain damaged\u2019. Use \u2018person with an intellectual disability\u2019, or \u2018person with a psychiatric disability\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid \u2018cerebral palsied\u2019 and \u2018spastic\u2019. Use \u2018person with cerebral palsy\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use \u2018person with epilepsy\u2019 or \u2018child with a seizure disorder\u2019. Avoid \u2018epileptic\u2019, either as noun or adjective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid \u2018dwarf\u2019 or \u2018midget\u2019. Some groups prefer \u2018little\/short\u2019, but its best to use \u2018person of short stature\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use \u2018man with paraplegia\u2019 or \u2018she has quadriplegia\u2019. Avoid \u2018paraplegic\u2019 or \u2018quadriplegic\u2019 as either a noun or adjective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Negative and patronising language produces negative and patronising images. Words are important, so make sure your words do not offend or reinforce negative stereotypes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acknowledgements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. https:\/\/www.westerncape.gov.za\/general-publication\/disability-definitions-models-and-terminology<\/a><\/em><\/li>
  2. Patricia Digh of Real Work Group cited in the DPSA (Disabled People South Africa) \u2018A Pocket Guide on Disability Equity\u2019.<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The correct terminology used to address a disabled person can be used as a powerful tool to facilitate change and bring about new values, attitudes, and social integration. Compiled by Tarren Bolton Condensed from \u2018Disability Definitions, Models and Terminology \u2013 Western Cape Government Language reflects the social context in which it is developed and used. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6306,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36,37],"tags":[39,41,354],"class_list":["post-6249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disability-spotlight","category-focus","tag-disability","tag-disability-connect","tag-terminology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6249\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}