People with disability are often described in ways that are discriminatory or demeaning, and our language has an impact on how people are perceived. Harmful language can offend, discriminate and create barriers to the meaningful participation of people with disabilities.
Language evolves over time, and some terms that were commonly used to refer to people with disabilities are now no longer acceptable. Using inclusive language is a simple way you can help combat ableism. Ableism is the biased understanding of disability that assumes that the lives of people with disabilities are not of equal value. What is considered inclusive language is constantly changing but the below is a good place to start!
| What Not to Say (Harmful Language) | What to Try Instead (Inclusive Language) |
|---|---|
| Suffers from, victim of, afflicted by, crippled by, incapacitated by | Sarah has a chronic health condition |
| Intellectually challenged, mentally retarded, mentally disabled, mentally defective, handicapped, simple, special needs, | Max has a cognitive disability/intellectual disability |
| Crazy, insane, mad, manic, mentally ill, mentally unstable, loony, nuts, psycho(tic), psychopath(ic), schizo | Jess has a psychosocial disability/ a mental health condition |
| Wheelchair-bound, confined to a wheelchair | Leo uses a wheelchair |
| Mute, dumb | Tanya is non-verbal |
| Stupid, slow | Harry has a learning disability |
People with disabilities can find harmful language disempowering as many terms are offensive, degrading and perpetuate stereotypes. Using inclusive language is respectful and affirms that people with disabilities are people first who deserve respect and acknowledgement for their equal role in our communities.
As People with Disability Australia (PWDA) also note, many people with disabilities are proud of being disabled. As a part of owning their identity, some people with disabilities have reclaimed terms such as ‘crip’ and ‘spaz’, to take control of these labels and destigmatise them. It’s important to note that it is inappropriate to use these terms if they do not apply to you.
There are many more nuisances to inclusive language and people with disability may not always agree on the best approach, such as whether to use identity-first or person-first language. We recommend listening to people with disabilities and reputable disability organisations to get a better idea of how to incorporate inclusive language into your day-to-day life.
Learn More
There are lots of great resources about inclusive language including the United Nations’ Disability Inclusive Language Guidelines, People with Disability Australia’s Language Guide and Stella Young’s TED Talk ‘I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much’.
