The way we understand disability affects the language we use and the way in which we interact with disabled people. There are currently two distinctly different ways of understanding disability: the medical model and the social model.
The medical model explains disability as a result of illness or impairment and it is this which prevents a person from interacting or functioning in society in the same way. The social model takes the much wider view that disability is not caused by impairment or illness but that it is the environmental, social and economic barriers erected by the society they live in that limit people’s lives and opportunities.
Organizations for disabled people as well as groups and individuals prefer to define disability in terms of the social model. Because terminology is linked to perception, it is an important and sensitive issue, which has sparked debate worldwide regarding the proper usage of terms. However, there is still a wide variation in usage, even amongst disabled people.
Here are some useful guidelines on preferred terminology which may help us to improve the way we portray disabled people when we speak and or write:
Do not focus solely on the impairments or conditions of disabled people; it is far better to focus on the issues affecting the quality of life of disabled people, such as accessible transportation systems, accessible housing, affordable healthcare and employment opportunities.
Avoid portraying successful disabled people as superhuman beings or as super-achievers, as this can raise the false expectation that all disabled people should achieve the same.
Avoid phrases such as ‘victim of’ or ‘crippled with’ which can sensationalize a person or their experience. Also avoid using generic labels for groups of disabled people such as ‘the deaf’, ‘the blind’ or ‘the disabled’. Rather than emphasizing the condition or impairment, emphasize the individual instead.
Try not to use emotional descriptions or use euphemisms such as ‘mentally incompetent’, ‘mentally deficient’ or ‘physically incapacitated’. Such terms are considered condescending by disabled people.
Disabled people should not be treated as patients unless the discussion takes place in a medical context, eg with their doctor.
Here is a list of terms to avoid and terms to use:
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