The words you use to describe people with disability should be respectful and inclusive. You may not be aware that the language you use is offensive, hurtful or insensitive.
Here are some of the right and wrong ways of talking about a person with a disability:
| Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
|---|---|
|
Person with intellectual disability Person with disability |
Intellectually disabled Disabled Defect, deformity Mentally handicapped Retarded Invalid Intellectually challenged Special needs Spastic |
| Person without a disability | Normal person |
| Visually impaired | Blind |
| Uses a wheelchair | Confined to a wheelchair |
| Hearing impaired | Deaf |
| Physical disability |
Crippled Handicapped Physically challenged Spastic Specially needs |
| Non-verbal | Dumb |
| Seizure |
Fit Attack Spell |
|
Has Down syndrome |
Mongoloid Mongol Downsy |