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People First Language Handout

The document discusses People First Language, which recognizes that individuals with disabilities are first and foremost people. It emphasizes each person's value, individuality, dignity and capabilities. The document provides examples of appropriate people first terms to use, such as "person with a disability" and "person who is deaf", and inappropriate labels to avoid, such as "the disabled", "the blind", and "a cripple".

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Madison Hartfield
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259 views2 pages

People First Language Handout

The document discusses People First Language, which recognizes that individuals with disabilities are first and foremost people. It emphasizes each person's value, individuality, dignity and capabilities. The document provides examples of appropriate people first terms to use, such as "person with a disability" and "person who is deaf", and inappropriate labels to avoid, such as "the disabled", "the blind", and "a cripple".

Uploaded by

Madison Hartfield
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE

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.

People First Language to Use Instead of Labels that Stereotype and Devalue
• People/individuals with disabilities • The handicapped
An adult who has a disability The disabled
A child with a disability
A person • Normal people/healthy individuals
Atypical kids
• People/individuals without disabilities
• The mentally retarded; retarded people
Typical kids
He/she is retarded; the retarded
• People with mental retardations He/she’s a Downs kid; a Mongoloid; a Mongol
He/she has a cognitive impairment
• The autistic
A person who has Down Syndrome
• The mentally ill; the emotionally disturbed
• A person who has autism
Is insane, crazy; demented; psycho
A maniac; lunatic
• People with mental illness
Person who has an emotional disability
• He/she is learning disabled; a slow learner
With a psychiatric illness/disability

• A person who has a learning disability • The Deaf

• A person who is deaf


He/she has a hearing impairment or loss • Is deaf and dumb
A man/woman who is hard of hearing Mute

• Person who is deaf and cannot speak


Who has a speech disorder
Uses a communication device • The blind
Uses synthetic speech

• A person who is blind


A person who has a visual impairment • An epileptic
Man/woman who has low vision A victim of epilepsy
• A person who has epilepsy • A person who is wheelchair bound
People with a seizure disorder A person who is confined to a wheelchair
A cripple
• A person who uses a wheelchair
People who have a mobility impairment • A quadriplegic
A person who walks with crutches The paraplegic
• A person who has quadriplegia • A dwarf or midget
People with paraplegia
• He/she has a birth defect
• He/she is of small or short/stature

• He/she has a congenital disability

• Accessible buses, bathrooms, etc.

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