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Stories That Matter
Label Jars, Not People: Your Words Matter
You may think that the days of discrimination are gone, but for many individuals with disabilities the world has been slow to change.
“I challenge you to remove four words from your vocabulary: handicap, disabled, cripple and retarded,” says Patty Goss, SCIL Board member and person with a disability.
“It’s important to honor the worth and dignity of each and every person. Before I had my stroke, I didn’t think about the impact that these words can have.”
Just as you’d avoid racial slurs or say women instead of gals, there are preferred words for people with disabilities. Take a look at the origins of these negative words:
- Handicap evolved from the great depression when people with disabilities could not work and many resorted to begging holding their hand and cap out.
- Disabled implies that someone is “not able,” but we know that all individuals have worth and capabilities.
- Cripple and retarded suggest negative and demeaning descriptions and label the individual as less of a person.
Who are people with disabilities? They are -- first and foremost, people -- who have individual abilities, interests and needs. For the most part, they are ordinary individuals seeking to live ordinary lives. People with disabilities are moms, dads, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, friends, neighbors, coworkers, students and teachers. About 54 million Americans – one out of every five individuals – have a disability. (US Census) Their contributions enrich our communities and society as they live, work and share their lives.
You can help make social change happen by changing the way you speak to and about people with disabilities. By incorporating People First Language into your everyday conversations, your example can make a difference in the community and the world.
As the term implies, People First Language refers to the individual first and the disability second. It’s the difference in saying “the autistic” and “a child with autism.” By choosing to focus on the person, you avoid defining or labeling them as their disability. In other words, label jars, not people. While some people may not use preferred terminology, it’s important that you don’t repeat negative terms that stereotype, devalue or discriminate.
Join the fight for social change by learning People First Language, becoming a SCIL member, volunteering, visiting www.swcil.org or sharing this with your connections. You can also refer to the SCIL Disability Awareness Booklet.
People First Language Guidelines
- People with disabilities are ordinary people
- Tell what a person HAS, not what a person IS
- Emphasize abilities rather than limitations
- Avoid negative words that imply tragedy or pity
- Only use the word handicap to refer to a barrier created by people or the environment. While the word disability refers to functional limitations that interferes with a person’s mental, physical, cognitive or sensory abilities. For example, people with disabilities who use wheelchairs are handicapped by stairs.
- Do not refer to a person as bound to or confined to a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are liberating to people with disabilities because they provide mobility and access to the community.
- Do not use special to mean segregated, such as separate schools or buses for people with disabilities, or to suggest a disability itself makes someone special.
- Avoid cute euphemisms such as physically challenged, inconvenienced and differently abled.
- Promote understanding, respect, dignity and positive outlooks.
