What Do You Call People with Disabilities?

Men, women, boys, girls, students, mom, Sue's brother, Mr. Smith, Rosita, a neighbor, employer, coworker, customer, chef, teacher, scientist, athlete, adults, children tourists, retirees, actors, comedians, musicians, blondes, brunettes, SCUBA divers, computer operators, individuals, members, leaders, people, voters, friends or any other word you would use for a person.

People First Language recognizes that individuals with disabilities are - first and foremost - people. It emphasizes each person's value, individuality, dignity and capabilities. The following examples provide guidance on what terms to use and which ones are inappropriate when talking or writing about people with disabilities.

Use People First Language	Instead of Labels that Stereotype and Devalue
people/individuals with disabilities an adult who has a disability a child with a disability a person	the handicapped the disabled
people/individuals without disabilities typical kids	normal people atypical kids
people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities he/she has a cognitive impairment a person who has Down syndrome	the mentally retarded, retarded people, he/she is retarded, the retarded, moron, idiot, imbecile he/she's a Downs kid; a Mongoloid; a Mongol
a person who has autism	autistic
people with a mental illness a person who has an emotional disability a person with a psychiatric illness/disability	the mentally ill the emotionally disturbed is insane, crazy, demented, psycho, a maniac, lunatic
a person who has a learning disability	he/she is learning disabled
a person who is deaf he/she has a hearing impairment/loss a man/woman who is hard of hearing	the deaf
person who is deaf and cannot speak who has a speech disorder uses a communication device uses synthetic speech	is deaf and dumb mute
a person who is blind a person who has a visual impairment man/woman who has low vision	the blind
a person who has epilepsy people with a seizure disorder	an epileptic, a victim of epilepsy
a person who uses a wheelchair people who have a mobility impairment a person who walks with crutches	a person who is wheelchair bound a person who is confined to a wheelchair a cripple
a person who has quadriplegia people with paraplegia	a quadriplegic the paraplegic
he/she is of small or short stature	a dwarf or midget
he/she has a congenital disability	he/she has a birth defect
accessible buses, bathrooms, etc. reserved parking for people with disabilities	handicapped buses, bathrooms, hotel rooms, etc. handicapped parking