Different terms are used around the world to describe disability and to refer to persons with disabilities. Some words and terms may carry negative, disrespectful or discriminatory connotations and should be avoided in our communications. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is translated into many languages and can be a useful guide to using terms about disability that are both sensitive and appropriate. (Translations are available at: http://wrc.ms/CRPD_translations)
Communication Tips
Persons living with disability and older persons can face particular barriers to accessing information and services. Here are some tips on how to communicate with persons with disabilities digitally:
- Don't make assumptions about people or their disabilities. Don't assume you know what someone wants, what they feel, or what is best for them.
- Try to use respectful terminology, not disrespectful terminology. Consult with your instance team and preferably with persons with disabilities on what is considered to be respectful terminology in your particular cultural context. Disability is an evolving concept and likewise the language preferred today may be out of favor tomorrow.
- Use "people-first" language when referring to people with disabilities, unless they prefer different wording. People-first language means put the person first and the disability second. For example, say "a man who is blind" rather than "a blind man," and "a woman who uses a wheelchair" instead of "a wheelchair-bound woman." As a default, use people-first language when speaking with people with disabilities, and when speaking and writing about people with disabilities. See other examples in the chart below.
- Avoid excessively praising a person with a disability as can be insulting because it implies that you have low expectations of them.
- If possible, consider messaging in audio formats for those with visual impairments or who are illiterate.
- When sharing information about available services, share relevant accessibility considerations, and if possible, try to point them to a service provider that you know to be inclusive and accessible.
| DO use: | DO NOT use: | ||
| Person with an impairment; person with disability, Person with disability |
the disabled, handicapped, PWD |
||
| Person without a disability, non-disabled person, sighted person | normal person | ||
| Person with a psychosocial disability, or psychiatric impairment or person with mental illness | 'Mental' or 'mad' | ||
| Person with intellectual disabilities or persons with learning disabilities | Mental handicap or retarded | ||
| Person who is blind, person who has low vision; partially sighted person | the blind; the visually impaired | ||
| Person who is deaf, person who is hard of hearing; a deaf person, a deafblind person | suffers from hearing loss, the deaf, deaf and dumb, deaf-mute | ||
| Person who uses a wheelchair, Wheelchair-user | Confined or restricted to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound | ||
| Person with a physical disability | handicapped person; cripple, crippled, | ||
|
Unable to speak, uses synthetic speech |
lame dumb, mute |