Get People With Disabilities

A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).

For example, “differently abled” is problematic because, as some advocates note, we are all differently abled. Euphemisms are, in fact, a denial of reality and a way to avoid talking about disabilities. “Persons with disabilities” is a more neutral term than “differently abled”.

3. In general, refer to the person first and the disability second. UseDon't UsePerson with a disability, people with disabilitiesDisabled person; the disabledMan with paraplegiaParaplegic; paraplegic manPerson with a learning disabilitySlow learnerStudent receiving special education servicesSpecial education student1 more row

People-First Language Instead of saying “disabled person” say “the person with a disability”. Emphasize the person and their identity rather than first describing a disability. With the examples above, here is a list of “people first” verbiage: “Person with”

Examples of Inclusive Language for People With Disabilities Use “intellectual disability,” which replaced “mental retardation” in U.S. federal law in 2010. Refer to individuals, persons, or people with intellectual disabilities, rather than “intellectually disabled people” or “the intellectually disabled.”

Persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health. Persons with disabilities face many health inequities.

A disability is a functional limitation or restriction of an individual's ability to perform an activity. The word "disabled" is an adjective, not a noun. People are not conditions. It is therefore preferable not to use the term "the disabled" but rather "people with disabilities."