Consider these guidelines when communicating with or about disabled people. 1. Language guidelines Not everyone will agree on everything but there is general agreement on some basic guidelines. 1.1 Collective terms and labels The word ‘disabled’ is a description not a group of people. Use ‘disabled people’ not ‘the disabled’ as the collective term. However, many deaf people whose first language is BSL consider themselves part of ‘the deaf community’ – they may describe themselves as ‘Deaf’, with a capital D, to emphasise their deaf identity. Avoid medical labels. They say little about people as individuals and tend to reinforce stereotypes of disabled people as ‘patients’ or unwell. Don’t automatically refer to ‘disabled people’ in all communications – many people who need disability benefits and services don’t identify with this term. Consider using ‘people with health conditions or impairments’ if it seems more appropriate. 1.2 Positive not negative Avoid phrases like ‘suffers from’ which suggest discomfort, constant pain and a sense of hopelessness. Wheelchair users may not view themselves as ‘confined to’ a wheelchair – try thinking of it as a mobility aid instead. 1.3 Everyday phrases Most disabled people are comfortable with the words used to describe daily living. People who use wheelchairs ‘go for walks’ and people with visual impairments maybe very pleased – or not – ‘to see you’. An impairment may just mean that some things are done in a different way. Common phrases that may associate impairments with negative things should be avoided, for example ‘deaf to our pleas’ or ‘blind drunk’. 2. Words to use and avoid Avoid passive, victim words. Use language that respects disabled people as active individuals with control over their own lives. Avoid Use (the) handicapped, (the) disabled disabled (people) afflicted by, suffers from, victim of has [name of condition or impairment] confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair user wheelchair-bound mentally handicapped, mentally with a learning disability (singular) with learning defective, retarded, subnormal disabilities (plural) cripple, invalid disabled personAvoid Use spastic person with cerebral palsy able-bodied non-disabled mental patient, insane, mad person with a mental health condition deaf and dumb; deaf mute deaf, user of British Sign Language (BSL), person with a hearing impairment the blind people with visual impairments; blind people; blind and partially sighted people an epileptic, diabetic, depressive, person with epilepsy, diabetes, depression or and so on someone who has epilepsy, diabetes, depression dwarf; midget someone with restricted growth or short statureAvoid Use fits, spells, attacks seizures 3. Some tips on behaviour • use a normal tone of voice, don’t patronise or talk down • don’t be too precious or too politically correct – being super-sensitive to the right and wrong language and depictions will stop you doing anything • never attempt to speak or finish a sentence for the person you are talking to • address disabled people in the same way as you talk to everyone else • speak directly to a disabled person, even if they have an interpreter or companion with them