Words with Dignity
Language is powerful. Use respectful terms when referencing persons with disabilities.
If in doubt, ask.
| USE… | INSTEAD OF… |
|---|---|
| person with diabetes, arthritis, etc. | afflicted with, suffers from |
| person with a disability | the disabled, the handicapped |
| person with a mental illness, person with a mental health issue | mentally ill, insane, crazy, psychotic |
| person who is hard of hearing, person who is Deaf | the Deaf |
| person who is Deaf-Blind | Deaf and dumb, Deaf mute |
| person with Downs Syndrome, person with an intellectual disability, person with a developmental disability | Downs,imbecile, mentally retarded, mentally challenged |
| person who is blind, person who is visually impaired | the blind |
| person who stutters, person with a communication disability | stutterer, speech handicapped |
| person with a mobility disability, person with a spinal cord injury | physically challenged, crippled |
| person who uses a wheelchair | confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound |
| accessible parking, accessible washrooms | handicapped parking, handicapped washrooms |
| person without a disability | normal |
Provided by:
Disabilities Issues Office
630 – 240 Graham Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3C 0J7
Phone: 204-945-7613
Fax: 204-948-2896
E-mail: dio@gov.mb.ca
For more information visit AccessibilityMB.ca
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