Disability: etiquette starts with our language: the choice of words we use can reflect either a negative or positive attitude, and can unintentionally embarrass or even insult an individual or group. While there are no hard and fast rules, here is a list of generally acceptable terms and their acceptable application when used to discuss issues related to disabilities:

Consider this:
Many disability groups do not like using euphemisms to describe disabilities. They consider terms such as "partially sighted", "differently abled", "mentally different", and "physically challenged", to be patronizing. Also avoid using words like courageous, brave, and inspirational. Adapting to a disability does not necessarily mean acquiring those traits of bravery and courage. For example, it doesn’t take "courage" to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct eyesight, nor is it necessarily a courageous act to use a wheelchair for mobility. Always consider the dignity of the individual.

Disability: A general term used for functional limitation that interferes with a person’s ability, for example, to walk, lift, heal, or learn. It may refer to a physical, sensory or mental condition. Do not refer to people with disabilities as the handicapped, handicapped persons, or special. Handicap can be used when citing laws and situations, but should never be used to describe a person or disability. Say as a descriptive noun or adjective, such as “a person living with AIDS”, “woman who is blind”, or “man with a disability”.

Nondisabled: This is the appropriate term for people without disabilities. “Normal”, “able-bodied”, “temporarily able-bodied”, “healthy”, or “whole” are inappropriate.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A syndrome of learning and behavioral problems that is not caused by any serious underlying physical or mental disorder and is characterized especially by difficulty in sustaining attention, impulsive behavior, and usually by excessive activity. Say “person with ADHD”.

Autism: A mental disorder originating in infancy that is characterized by absorption in self-centered subjective mental activity, especially when accompanied by marked withdrawal from reality, inability to interact socially, repetitive behavior, and language dysfunction. Say “person with autism”.

Blind: Describes a condition in which a person has loss of vision for ordinary life purposes. Visually impaired is the generic term used by some individuals to refer to all degrees of vision loss. Say: “boy who is blind”, “girl who is visually impaired”, or “man who has low vision”.

Brain Injury: A condition where there is long-term or temporary disruption in brain function resulting from injury to the brain. Difficulties with cognitive, physical, emotional, and/or social functioning may occur. Do not say brain damaged. Say “person with a brain injury”, “woman who has sustained a brain injury”, or “boy with an acquired brain injury”.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: This term can also be called chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. It describes a serious chronic condition in which individuals experience six or more months of fatigue accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms. Do not use terms such as Yuppie Flu, malingering, and hypochondriasis as they are pejorative, implies personality disorders, and are not scientifically supportive. Say “person with chronic fatigue syndrome”.

Cleft Lip: A specific congenital disability involving the lip and gum. The term hare lip is anatomically incorrect and stigmatizing. Say “a person who has a cleft lip or a cleft palate”.

Congenital or Birth Disability: A disability that has existed since birth, but is not necessarily hereditary. The terms birth defect and deformity are inappropriate. Say “a person with a congenital disability”.

Deaf: Refers to a profound degree of hearing loss that prevents understanding speech through the ear. Hearing impaired or hearing loss are generic terms used by some individuals to indicate any degree of hearing loss from mild to profound. These terms include people who are hard of hearing and deaf. However, some individuals completely disfavor the term hearing impaired. Others prefer to use deaf or hard of hearing. Hard of hearing refers to a mild to moderate hearing loss that may or may not be corrected with amplification. Say “a woman who is deaf”, “boy who is hard of hearing”, “individuals with hearing losses”, and “people who are deaf or hard of hearing”.

Developmental Disability: Any mental and/or physical disability starting before the age of 22 and continuing indefinitely. It limits one or more of major life activities such as self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-direction, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. Thus includes individuals with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, and other seizure disorders, sensory impairments, congenital disabilities, traumatic injuries, or conditions caused by disease (polio, muscular dystrophy, ect.). It may also be the result of multiple disabilities. Say “person with a developmental disability”.

Disfigurement: Refers to changes caused by burns, trauma, disease, or congenital conditions. Do not say “burn victim”. Say “burn survivor”, “adult with burns”, or “child with burns”.

Down's syndrome: A chromosome disorder that usually causes a delay in physical, intellectual, and language development. Usually results in mental retardation. Mongol, Mongoloid, and Downs child/person are unacceptable. Say “person with Down syndrome”.

HIV/AIDS: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an infectious disease resulting in the loss of the body’s immune system to ward off infections. The disease is cause by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A positive test for HIV can occur without symptoms of the illness that usually develop up to 10 years later, including tuberculosis, reoccurring pneumonia, cancer, recurrent vaginal yeast infections, intestinal ailments, chronic weakness and fever, and profound weight loss. Don’t say “AIDS victim”. “Say people living with HIV”, “people living with AIDS” or “living with AIDS”.

Learning Disability: A permanent condition that affects the way an individual takes in, retains, and expresses information. Some groups prefer specific learning disability, because it emphasizes that only certain learning processes are affected. Do not say slow learner, retarded, ect., which are different from learning disabilities. Say “person with a learning disability”.

Mental Disability: The Federal Rehabilitation Act (section 504) lists four categories under mental disability: psychiatric disability, retardation, learning disability, or cognitive impairment as acceptable terms. Always precede these terms with, “person with . . . .”

Mental Retardation: Refers to substantial intellectual delay that requires environmental or personal supports to live independently. Mental retardation is manifested by below-average intellectual functioning in two or more life areas (work, education, daily living, ect.) and is present before the age of 18. Don’t use subnormal or the retarded. Say “people with mental retardation”.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities: A chronic condition of irritation or inflammation of sensory organs, gastrointestinal distress, fatigue, and compromised neurological function triggered by contact with low level exposure to common substances including pesticides, petroleum-based products, perfumes, detergent residues, foods and food chemicals. Do not use hypersensitive or hysterical to describe a person with this condition. Say “a person with chemical intolerance” or “a person with environmental illness”.

Post-polio Syndrome: A condition that affects persons who have had poliomyelitis (polio) long after recovery from the disease and that is characterized by muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue. Do not use “polio victim”. Say “a person with post-polio syndrome”.

Psychiatric Disability: Psychotic, schizophrenic, neurotic, and other specific terms should be used only in proper clinical context and should be checked carefully for medical and legal accuracy. Words such as crazy, maniac, lunatic, demented, schizo, and psycho are offensive and should never be applied to people with mental health problems or anyone else. Acceptable terms are “people with psychiatric disabilities”, “people with psychiatric illnesses”, emotional disorders, or mental disorders.

Seizure: An involuntary muscular contraction, a brief impairment or loss of consciousness, ect., resulting from a neurological condition such as epilepsy or from an acquired brain injury. The term convulsion should be used only for seizures involving contraction of the entire body. Do not use fit, spastic, or attacks. Rather than “epileptic”, say “girl with epilepsy”, or “boy with a seizure disorder”.

Small/Short Stature: Describes people under 4’10” tall. Do not refer to these individuals as dwarfs or midgets, which implies a less than full adult status in society. Dwarfism is an accepted medical term, but it should not be used as general terminology. Say “persons of small (or short) stature”. Some groups prefer the term “little people”.

Speech Disorder: A condition where a person has limited or difficult speech patterns. Do not use “mute” or “dumb”. Use “child who has a speech disorder”. For a person with no verbal capability, “say woman without speech”.

Spinal Cord Injury: Describes a condition in which there has been permanent damage to the spinal cord. Quadriplegia denotes substantial or significant loss of function in all four extremities. Paraplegia refers to substantial or significant loss of function in the lower part of the body only. Say “man with paraplegia”, “woman who is paralyzed”, or “person with a spinal cord injury”.

Stroke: This is caused by an interruption of blood to the brain. Hemiplegia (paralysis on one side) may result. “Stroke survivor” or “person who has had a stroke” is preferred over “stroke victim”.

Substance Dependence: Patterns of substance use that result in impairment in at least three life areas (family, employment, health, ect.) over any 12-momnth period. Substance dependence is general characterized by impaired control over consumption, preoccupation with the substance, and denial of impairment in life areas. Substance dependence may include physiological dependence/tolerance withdrawal. Although such terms as alcoholic and addict are medically acceptable, they may be derogatory to some individuals. Acceptable terms are “people who are substance dependent” or “people who are alcohol dependent”. An individual who has a history of dependence on alcohol and/or other drugs and is no longer using alcohol or drugs, may identify themselves as “recovering” or as “a person in recovery”.