Disability Etiquette – Tip #5

Tip #5 – Use Empowering Terminology

Always use person first language when referring to someone with a disability.  Say “person with a disability” not “disabled person”.  Avoid negative disempowering words which focus on the impairment rather than the individual – such as “wheelchair bound”, “crippled” or “handicapped”.  Some persons with disabilities dislike jargony euphemistic terms like “physically challenged” or “differently abled”.  If you are unsure of which words to use – ask.