Administration and Finance

When referring to individuals with disabilities, terminology is important, because words reflect our attitudes and beliefs. Expressions such as "afflicted by", "handicapped", "wheelchair bound", "blind", etc. do not accurate represent the individual. Acceptable expressions are "individual with a disability", "visually impaired", "hearing impaired", etc.

Encourage each other to use the respectful method of addressing disabled persons. Together, our campus can be more accessible to all individuals.

Here are some terms to avoid and why each should not be used:

• Afflicted with This conveys a tragic or negative view about disability
  
  
• Suffering from This confuses disability with illness and also implies that a disability may be a personal burden. Increasingly, disabled people view their disability as a positive rather that negative experience
  
  
• The blind Lumping everyone together in this way is felt by many to take away their individuality. The most appropriate term to use here is ‘people with visual impairments’, or ‘blind people’
  
  
• Victim of This term implies that a disability is somehow a tragedy
  
  
• Cripple or crippled by Use the term ‘the person has ...’ because 'crippled' is considered to be taboo or offensive referring to a disabled person
  
  
• Wheelchair bound Disabled people are not tied into their wheelchairs. People are wheelchair users or someone who uses a wheelchair. A wheelchair offers the freedom to move around and is a valuable tool
  
  
• Deaf and dumb This phrase is demeaning and inaccurate. Many deaf people use sign language to communicate and dumb implies that someone is stupid. Use ‘a person with a hearing impairment’, or ‘a deaf person’, or ‘sign language user’
  
  
• The disabled There is no such thing as 'the disabled'.  Use the term ‘people with disabilities ’
  
  
• Handicapped Many people dislike the term because of its association with old-fashioned attitudes towards impairments
  
  
• Invalid The term literally means 'not valid'
  
  
• Able bodied The preferred term is ‘non-disabled’. ‘Able -bodied’ suggests that all disabilities are physical and ignores unseen disabilities, and that disabled people are not able

(Source: http://www.manchester.gov.uk/disability/language/index.htm)

For more information, contact the ADA Compliance Office at ext. 2870.

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