| ‘Person with a disability’: The focus is on the person, not the disability. |
Do not say ‘disabled person’: This term reduces a person to their disability. |
| ‘Person with a physical disability’ or ‘person with a motor impairment’. |
Do not use terms as ‘cripple’, ‘spastic’, ‘invalid’: These terms are discriminatory and offensive. |
| ‘Person who uses a wheelchair’ or ‘wheelchair user’. |
Don’t say ‘confined to a wheelchair’: The wheelchair is portrayed negatively here. |
| ‘Has…’ or ‘lives with…’: when talking/writing about the disability. |
Avoid phrases like ‘suffers from…’: Implies pain or agony and creates pity. |
| ‘In addition to his abilities’ or simply without the addition. |
Do not say ‘despite his disability’: Sounds patronising and unnecessarily focuses on the disability. |
| ‘Has a disability following an accident’ (if relevant). |
Don’t say that someone is a ‘victim of an accident’: Reduces the person to the event. |
| Show appreciation for specific achievements or abilities: e.g. ‘His/Her sporting performance impresses me’. |
Avoid ‘he/she is such a hero’ or ‘That is so inspiring’: can come across as patronising, as if life with a disability is exceptional. |
| ‘People without disabilities’ |
Don’t talk about ‘normal’ compared to people with disabilities: ‘normal people’, ‘normal life’. |