Terminology: What Should You Call a Person With a Disability?

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Terminology: What Should You Call a Person With a Disability?

By Yoji Cole October 09, 2008

http://www.diversityinc.com/public/4514.cfm

What's in a name? Or, better yet, what's in a term? To people with

disabilities, using improper terminology can be as insulting as

deliberately mispronouncing their names.

" Everyone should strive to make sure they're using the appropriate

terminology because it makes a difference in terms of stigma and how

the world views people with disabilities, " says Curt Decker,

executive director of the National Disability Rights Network.

Stigma, prejudice and stereotypes are a three-headed monster that

makes it too easy to see a person's difference negatively rather than

positively. People with disabilities are stigmatized or labeled as

not being able to accomplish as much as someone who does not have a

disability, which leads to prejudice against hiring people with

disabilities. The label couldn't be further from the truth: According

to facts culled by the United Nations, people with disabilities in

the U.S. work force have higher retention rates, equal or higher

performance ratings, and less absenteeism or lateness than workers

without disabilities.

To help head off such stereotypes, employers must be hyper-aware of

ensuring that their employees know the proper way to refer to people

in all underrepresented groups, such as people with disabilities.

When speaking about a person with a disability, " you should always

refer to the person first, " and not the disability, says Decker.

Don't refer to a person with a disability as " that disabled person "

or " that blind woman " or " that amputee. " Instead, say, for

example, " that person who is blind. "

By putting the " person " before the disability, the disability does

not define the person, says Starnes, chairman and president of

the National Organization on Disability.

When referencing a person who has a disability, start with the

phrase " People with … " because saying " people with a disability "

or " people with a hearing impairment " implies that they are not being

defined solely by their disability.

Starnes notes there are 54 million Americans who have a disability,

many of whom have hidden disabilities. In a corporate setting where a

person's background or current state in life is not always known, it

is best to use the proper terminology and phrasing to ensure people

do not misconstrue what is being said.

Respect is shown by referring to people in the manner in which they

want to be referred, especially when referencing a traditionally

underrepresented group. People with disabilities are also extremely

diverse, representing every racial, ethnic and gender group. Because

people with disabilities are not monolithic, each individual might

have a different idea of how he or she wants his or her disability

referenced.

Within the blind community, for example, some people prefer the

term " visually impaired " or " a person with a visual impairment. " But

the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) says people who cannot see

should simply call themselves blind.

" It's not something to be ashamed of, " says sen, public-

relations specialist for NFB.

NFB reasons that when a blind person does not want to be called

blind, the word and physical state of not being able to see is

enveloped in a negative connotation. Using euphemisms for a state of

being that " means nothing more or less than … not being able to see

with your eyes … makes the negative connotations associated with

being blind worse, " says sen. " A lot of people want to

use 'visually impaired,' but we believe that is unnecessary. "

Decker points out that terms and labels come and go as a community's

power develops and people become more aware of the community and its

issues.

" Modernism comes along and terms once acceptable are not acceptable, "

says Decker. " The general public must stay on top of the most

appropriate name. For example, we used to say 'mental retardation,'

but we're now using 'developmental disabilities.' "

Starnes remembers when terms " handicapped, " " handi-abled, " and

differently abled " were in use.

" The term 'people with disabilities' is probably the safest because

it is incorporated into the civil-rights legislation that covers

people with disabilities, " says Starnes. " But that doesn't mean every

person you meet will be happy with the term. "

People who want to be safe and sensitive should simply ask a person

with a disability what terminology makes them most comfortable when

their disability is being referenced, adds Starnes.

" So if you know someone has a disability, ask, 'How do I describe

your disability or address you when talking about your disability?'

You'll get a number of different answers, " says Starnes, but you will

know how to best represent your friend, family member or coworker who

has a disability.