Glossary
If it is necessary to refer to someone by their disability, remember the person comes first, the disability is always second in importance, i.e. “an individual with a disability.”
Avoid using these descriptive words when referring to a person with a disability:
- crippled
- damaged
- defective
- deformed
- suffers
- victim
- wheelchair bound
Below you will find a glossary of suggested terminology along with the antiquated or inappropriate terminology it replaces.
| Inappropriate | Suggested |
|---|---|
| alcoholic, addict | substance dependent, alcohol dependent |
| autistic | person with autism |
| birth defect, deformity | congenital disability |
| brain damaged | brain injury |
| client | consumer (preferred usage at WCIL) |
| crazy, maniac, lunatic, demented, schizoid, psycho, insane, mad | psychiatric disabilities, psychiatric illnesses, emotional disorders, or mental disorders |
| developmentally disabled | person with a developmental disability |
| fit | seizure disorder |
| handicap | disability |
| hare lip | cleft lip or cleft palate |
| hyperactive | attention deficit disorder |
| hypersensitive | chemical intolerance, environmental illness |
| mentally challenged | mental disability |
| midget | little person, dwarf |
| mute, dumb | speech disorder, person without speech |
| Mongol, Mongoloid, Downs | Down syndrome |
| normal, able-bodied, healthy, whole | nondisabled |
| physically challenged | physical disability |
| polio victim | post-polio syndrome |
| slow learner, retarded | learning disability |
| stroke victim | stroke survivor |
| the blind | people who are blind |
| the deaf | people who are deaf |
