Language that empowers
 
The Disability never defines the total person. Remember
to emphasize the person rather than the disaiblity
A guide to acceptable terminology
 
Language that empowers
 
The Disability never defines the total person. Remember
to emphasize the person rather than the disaiblity
A guide to acceptable terminology

Preferred Language:

-little person
-person of short stature person who is deaf
-person who is hard of hearing 
-person who uses a wheelchair 
-wheelchair user
-person with a psychiatric disability 
-person with a learning disability 
-person with mental retardation 
-person with cerebral palsy 
-person who is blind 
-person who is visually impaired 
-person with ..., person who ...

Suggested Phrases:

-person who is blind;person who is visually impaired
-person with a disability
-person who is deaf; person who ishearing impaired or hard of hearing 
-person who has multiple sclerosis 
-person with cerebral palsy 
-person who has muscular dystrophy 
-person wiht mental retardation 
-person with epilepsy; person with a seizure disorder
-person without disabilities
-person who is physically disabled
-unable to speak, uses synthetic speech seizure successful
-productive
-person with psychiatric disability 
-person who no longer lives in an institution
-says she has a disability
 
Considered Offensive Language:

-dwarf; midget
-the deaf, deaf and dumb stone deaf
-confined to a wheelchair wheelchair bound
c-razy, mentally disturbed retarded
-retard, slow, stupid spastic
-the blind
-living in a world of darkness victim of . . ., sufferer of... handicapped, afflicted, crippled

Considered Offensive Phrases the blind:

-the disabled
-handicapped 
-suffers a hearing loss
-afflicted by MS
-CP victim sticken by MD
-retarded
-mentally defective 
-epileptic
-normal person (implies that person with a disability isn't normal) 
-confined or restricted to a wheelchair
-crippled, lame, deformed dumb, mute,fit
-has overcome his or her disability
-courageous (when it implies the
-person has courage because s/he has a disability) 
-crazy, nuts
-the deinstitutionalized
-admits she has a disability

*Adapted from: The President's Committee on Employment for People with Disabilities, and Guidelines to Report Writing about People with Disabilities, from the Research and Training Center at the
University of Kansas.
 


Employees who have difficulty moving around ...

Wheelchairs are an extension of personal space for people who use them, therefore, it is not polite to lean on them.
When talking with a person in a wheelchair for more than a few minutes, place yourself at the wheelchair user's eye level to spare both of you a stiff neck

Employees who have difficulty remembering ...

It may take extra time for an individual with a learning disability to grasp all the aspects of a new job. It is important to train people in a style and pace that is comfortable.
When providing training, speak on an adult-to-adult level and be as straightforward as possible when you explain information or ask questions.
Teach multi-step jobs one step at a time and allow extra time for the worker to learn the procedure. Visual or auditory cues might help the person learn the job, such as a checklist or color cues. These types of accommodations should be agreed upon with the employee.

Employees who have difficulty with their interpersonal skills ...

Knowing what to expect can assist an individual who has difficulty with their interpersonal skills.
Try to be consistent with your interactions. Assist the individual to learn the subleties of workplace norms and identify examples of workplace humor.
If an individual needs constructive feedback, try to respect the need for privacy during that exchange. Suggest a person take a break and ask what you can do to help if a person seems to be having difficulty coping.

*Adapted from: Supporting Workers with Disabilities: valuing what each of us brings
to our work, and Awareness: The First Step towards Change: Tips for Disability
Awareness.

For More Information Call VCU (804)828-1851