3. In general, refer to the person first and the disability second.
People with disabilities are, first and foremost, people. 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.
|
Use |
Don’t Use |
|---|---|
|
Person with a disability, people with disabilities |
Disabled person; the disabled |
|
Man with paraplegia |
Paraplegic; paraplegic man |
|
Person with a learning disability |
Slow learner |
|
Student receiving special education services |
Special education student |
|
A person of short stature or little person |
Dwarf, midget |
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