Language matters – we know that. The words we use to describe folks with disabilities matter. Although there is not a one size fits all terminology for every person with a disability, there are some best practices we can follow.
People with disabilities experience unjust outcomes not only within employment but also in day to day interactions – which means that socially constructed language holds us back from equity if it does not uplift people with disabilities. The language that we use everyday shapes our understanding of the world around us. It influences how people feel about themselves as well as how they are perceived by others. Language has shifted over the last few decades and will continue to do so in the future. Although the best way to remain informed is to ask people with disabilities what they personally prefer, below are some best practices you can follow:
- Use person first language if you are unsure how an individual prefers to identify.
Person first language is saying “John is a person with a disability” versus “John is disabled”. If you know that John prefers to be referred to with identity first language, then do so.
- Not every individual with a disability refers to themselves as a self-advocate.
Although some individuals with a disability are very loudly self-advocates, it is unwise to assume that everyone in the disability community wants to be a self advocate. People with disabilities have the right to exist as they please, and if advocacy is not in their books it is best to not refer to them as self-advocates. If you would like to know if self-advocacy is important to them, ask!
- There are intersectional identities within the disability community, keep them in mind.
Some people may identify from communities other than disability. The experiences of those with multiple identities will differ between individuals. Someone from the status quo culture will not have the same experience as someone from a marginalized culture, even though they both share disabilities. Getting to know the individual is the best way to learn where your differences, or similarities fall.
- Avoid using language that stigmatizes people with disabilities.
Some common sayings are based in ableist language and can unintentionally marginalize people with disabilities. Using outdated language, or assuming that a person with a disability cannot be successful are harmful ways to engage with the community. Differently abled people (a term coined at the October DEAM IDEA Conference from our Keynote Speaker, Nisha Patel) may have differing life experiences than someone who is able bodied or without a disability, but they experience joy and success just like anyone else.
- Stereotypes about people with disabilities should not lead how you interact with them.
According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, an “ableist” belief system often underlies negative attitudes, stereotypes and stigma toward people with psychosocial disabilities. Discrimination often informs stereotypes and if language around disability is approached with a judgment-free discourse, interactions can instead uplift individuals instead of reinforce negative stereotypes. It’s also good to be aware that certain types of disabilities are more stigmatized than others due to the stereotypes associated with them. People with schizophrenia or drug addictions may experience particularly negative attitudes from others based on beliefs about dangerousness, anti-social behaviour or risk.
There are many more best practices for the language used around disability, and it is constantly evolving. If you’d like some more information, read this, and this, and maybe also this. Remember, the best way to respect someone with a disability is to ask them for their personal preferences; people with disabilities are not a homogenous group.
Author : Mariebelle Sawma
