The Language of Disability SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL

The Language of Disability SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

American Heritage Book of English Usage Quote “One of the most basic ways of showing respect for others is to refer to them by the names with which they have chosen to identify themselves and to avoid using names that they consider offensive. ” American Heritage Book of English Usage SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

Criteria for thinking about language choice v Avoid language that: o paints a negative picture of disability o patronizes people with disabilities o perpetuates misconceptions about disability v Choose language that is consistent with the ideal that lack of access is the problem. SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

WHEELCHAIR BOUND SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

DIFFERENTLY ABLED SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

eu·phe·mism a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

MENTALLY CHALLENGED SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

I don’t think of you as disabled. SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

She overcame her disability. SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

Criteria for thinking about language choice v Avoid language that: o paints a negative picture of disability o patronizes people with disabilities o perpetuates misconceptions about disability v Choose language that is consistent with the ideal that lack of access is the problem. SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

Marcellino Quote What you call people is how you treat them. Nick Marcellino SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

Contact Me Your Name Email Etc. This resource was developed by Southwest ADA Center Regional Affiliate – Arkansas, a program of the University of Arkansas—with a subaward from the Southwest ADA Center funded by NIDDLR. SOUTHWEST ADA CENTER REGIONAL AFFILIATE – ARKANSAS • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – PARTNERS FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES