PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE AT ALL TIMES!!!
Why?
As with any group of people who are a minority, people with
disabilities want to be viewed with respect and dignity. To accomplish this be conscious
of the power of language and how we "name" things, people, and groups.
Disabilities don't handicap --- Attitudes and architecture do!
When talking or writing USE:
- People with disabilities -- NOT the disabled or the handicapped
- Individuals who are blind or visually impaired -- NOT the blind
- People who are Deaf or Person who is hearing impaired --NOT Deaf and dumb, Mute,
Deaf-mute
- People who use wheelchairs or People with mobility impairments --NOT Confined to a
wheelchair or Wheelchair bound
- Individual with a physical disability, People who are differently-able, or People who
are physically challenged --NOT Crippled, Handicapped, Invalid
- Individual with multiple disabilities or People with severe disabilities --NOT Deformed,
Vegetable, Freak
- Person who has a mental illness, People who are schizophrenic, or Person who is
manic-depressive --NOT Insane, Crazy, Psycho, Nuts
- People with mental retardation, Individual with a developmental disability,or Person who
has Down's syndrome --NOT Retarded, Moron, Mongoloid
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Access Austin Arts, 3710 Cedar St #7, Austin TX 78705
Phone 512-454-9912, Fax 512-451-3110, E-Mail: aaa@kdi.com