Portrayal of People with Disabilites

The advocacy movement led by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities ("self-advocacy") continues to work to eliminate the use of the term 'mental retardation' or derivative terminology due to its harmful impact on their lives. Efforts such as End the Word have been increasingly successful in removing the word both from medical and common language.

People with disabilities do not want to be referred to as a victim or object of pity. People with disabilities are not victims. Disability is just one aspect of the person. Avoid using "suffers from," "afflicted with," "bound," "confined," "sentenced to," "prisoner," "victim," or any other term that implies tragedy. For example, instead of writing "wheelchair-bound" or "confined to a wheelchair" use "person who uses a wheelchair." Instead of "victim of quadriplegia," use "person with quadriplegia" or "people with paraplegia."

Disability is a natural part of the human experience, an aspect of human diversity like other areas of human variation, and most people do not like to be labeled. Therefore it is preferable to use people-first language. People-first language places the emphasis on the person instead of on the disability when discussing most intellectual and developmental disabilities. For example, instead of saying "Down syndrome person," it is preferable to say, "person with Down syndrome."

Some disability self-advocates prefer identity-first language. Identity-first language emphasizes that the disability plays a role in who the person is, and reinforces disability as a positive cultural identifier. Identity-first language is generally preferred by self-advocates in the autistic, deaf, and blind communities. It is important to note that whether a person with a disability prefers people-first or identity-first language is not universal.

If you are unsure as to whether you should use
people-first or identity-first language in order to be respectful,
the best thing to do is to
ask people themselves.

Resource Links:

• People First Language
• National Arts and Disability Center at the Tarjan Center UCEDD

• Using Person-First Language When Describing People With Disabilities

• People First Language Wikipedia

• Senate Accessibility Manual

  This guide is intended to provide Senate offices and constituents with valuable information on accessibility throughout the US Capitol Complex. It includes suggestions to help address the needs of staff, constituents, and visitors with accessibility needs, including: basic rules of etiquette; locations of accessible routes and entrances; accessible room design; and emergency evacuation procedures.

  Please use this manual as you develop policies and procedures for accommodating individuals with accessibility needs, whether they are visiting our nation's capital or working in a Congressional office.

   PDF here.

   Word here.

  (Developed by Senatory Mike Enzi (WY) in recognition of the 20^th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.)

Contact Information: