Disability Pride Month!

Tiara Whitlock
Jul 29
2 min read

We are celebrating Disability Pride month here at the Clear Language Lab, which coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As we recognize and celebrate how people with disabilities enrich our communities, we thought it would be helpful to share ways that you can use disability-inclusive language when you write.

At the Clear Language Lab, we know the power of words. The words we use to write to and about people with disabilities matter. Here are some helpful tips to make sure that your writing is positive and respectful when writing to and about people with disabilities:

Emphasize a person’s abilities, not their limitations

Choose language that focuses on what a person can do, not what they can’t do.

Use	Don’t Use
Person who uses a wheelchair	Person confined to a wheelchair
Uses a cane/walker for mobility	Dependent on a cane/walker

Understand the nuances of person-first and identity-first language

Person First Language

Person-first language centers the person over their disability. Many people with disabilities want to be seen as people first. They are not their disability. They are people who have a disability. When writing, it is important to avoid dehumanizing language and equating a person with their disability if that is not how they talk about themselves.

Here are some helpful examples of what this looks like from the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network:

Use	Don’t Use
Person with a disability, people with disabilities	Disabled person; the disabled
Man with paraplegia	Paraplegic; paraplegic man
Person with a learning disability	Slow learner

Identity-First Language

Some people with disabilities prefer to use identity-first language. Here, individuals are referenced in ways that emphasize what they believe to be an integral part of their identity. For example, autistic person is a term that is preferred by many in the autistic community.

It’s important to find out whether your audience prefers person-first or identity-first language when they are referenced. If you are unsure which is preferred, it’s typical to default to person-first language. Either way, writing with respect is the most important part to remember.

Take care when describing people without disabilities

When writing about people with and without disabilities, careful word choice can help you from reinforcing or implying negative stereotypes. Use of the word normal for a person without a disability implies that something is wrong with the person who has a disability.

Use	Don’t Use
*People without disabilities*	Normal, healthy, able-bodied, whole
*She is a child without disabilities*	She is a regular child

Listen to people with disabilities

When writing to or about people with disabilities, it will be helpful to consider their perspective, experiences and needs. Centering and including their voices as you plan what you write can help to avoid unnecessary missteps and bring in other points you may not have considered.

Final Takeaways

If you would like helpful information about disability-inclusive language, Communicate Health has a great resource in their Inclusive Language Playbook: Writing About Disability pamphlet.

By choosing words that honor the identities and experiences of people with disabilities, we help build a more inclusive and accessible world. As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, let’s commit to language that reflects dignity, inclusion, and pride in the disability community.