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Use common sense. Avoid terms that are obviously negative or that connote
pity such as handicapped, crippled, deaf and dumb, lame, and
defective. If you arent sure how to refer to a persons condition, just ask.
Think people first and put the person before their disability. A persons
disability should not define him, it is just part of who he is. Say a child who has
autism rather than the autistic child. Say people with autism rather than the
autistic.
Dont use phrases such as afflicted with, victim of, or suffers from
when referring to a persons disability. These references diminish the individuals
dignity and magnify the disability.
Try to describe people without disabilities as just that, or use words like
typical or average instead of normal.
Blind most frequently is used to describe a severe vision loss. Either person who is
blind or person with low vision are acceptable.
Mental illness is a term describing many forms of illnesses such as schizophrenia,
depression and emotional disorders. Use person with a mental disability rather than
referring to an individual as deranged or deviant. Clinical terms such as neurotic
and psychotic should be used only for clinical writing. Other terms such as demented,
insane, abnormal, deranged and mad often are used incorrectly and should be
avoided.
For more information about developmental disabilities or available services, contact DDSD
at (405) 521-3571 or toll free (866) 521-3571.