Disability Etiquette
Person-First versus Identity-First Language
Person-First Language
Identity-First Language
What is the difference?
Recommendations
If you are unsure how to speak to or about someone with a disability, it may be a good idea to inquire about their preference and use that going forward. This way you can better communicate with them. Both approaches respect disabled people, so either choice will typically work when talking or writing about disabilities.
Person-First | Identity-First | Offensive and Not Recommended |
person with a disability | disabled person | the disabled, cripple, victim, spastic, spaz, handicapped, the handicapped, abnormal, dumb/deaf-mute, defect, defective, midget, or vegetable |
person with an intellectual disability | intellectually-disabled person | mental handicap, mentally retarded, or mentally handicapped |
person with a mental health disability | mentally-disabled person | mad, crazy, schizo, schizophrenic, insane, nuts, psycho, psychotic, demented, senile, loony, or lunatic |
person who uses a wheelchair | wheelchair user | wheelchair-bound or confined to a wheelchair |
has… (diagnosis) | adjective form of diagnosis (i.e. ‘autistic’) person | suffers from… afflicted with… stricken with… or victim of… |
person without a disability | not disabled or non-disabled | normal |
Service Animal Etiquette
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as dogs individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Because service dogs are NOT considered pets, they are allowed access anywhere their handler needs to go by federal and state laws.
Under the ADA, one may ask if the dog is a service dog and what tasks the dog performs for the handler.
One may also ask if the handler has a disability, but may NOT ask what that disability is.
Respect service dogs and their handlers by following this simple guide:
Do | Don't |
Speak to the handler when greeting a service dog team. | Speak to, pet, make eye contact or distract a service dog in any way, realizing by allowing a service dog to greet you may distract the service dog from its work. |
Know service dog vests and/or certification cards are not required by law, however, most service dogs werat a vest identifying them as such. | Be offended if a handler does not want to answer your questions about life with a service dog. Keep in mind the handler may be trying to get someplace in a hurry. |
Allow a service dog to work without distraction. | Offer a service dog food. |
Know service dogs are valued and well-loved family members who enjoy their jobs. | Feel bad for services dogs when you seem them working in public. They get play time, attention and love from their handlers and immediate family members. |
Mobility Aid Etiquette
- Don't lean on a person's wheelchair, as the chair is an extension of the person using it.
- Don't talk down to a person in a wheelchair. Instead, crouch down or sit in a chair and talk to the person at eye level.
- Don't put bags or other items on a person's wheelchair without consent.