Words Matter: The Power of Language in Respecting People with Disabilities

“Turning a blind eye”

Implication: Suggests that blindness equates to willful ignorance or negligence.

Alternative: “Ignoring the issue” or “Overlooking the problem.”

“Lame excuse”

Implication: Uses “lame,” a term historically associated with physical disability, to mean weak or unconvincing.

Alternative: “Weak excuse” or “Unconvincing excuse.”

“Crippled by fear”

Implication: Associates being physically disabled (crippled) with being overwhelmed or paralyzed by emotion.

Alternative: “Overwhelmed by fear” or “Paralyzed by fear.”

“Blind leading the blind”

Implication: Implies incompetence and lack of direction, reinforcing negative stereotypes about blind individuals.

Alternative: “Inexperienced leading the inexperienced.”

“Crazy” or “Insane”

Implication: Uses mental illness terms to describe something wild, unpredictable, or illogical.

Alternative: “Ridiculous,” “Unbelievable,” or “Outrageous.”

“Schizo” or “Schizophrenic” when describing erratic behavior

Implication: Misuses a medical diagnosis to describe unpredictable behavior, which can stigmatize people with schizophrenia.

Alternative: “Erratic,” “Unpredictable,” or “Inconsistent.”

“Midget”

Implication: An outdated and offensive term used to describe someone with dwarfism.

Alternative: “Person with dwarfism” or “Little person.”

“Retarded”

Implication: Historically used in a medical context, but now considered highly offensive when used to describe someone as foolish or slow.

Alternative: “Intellectually disabled,” “Person with developmental disabilities,” or avoid using it as an insult altogether.

“Psycho”

Implication: Used to describe someone acting wildly or irrationally, it stigmatizes mental health conditions.

Alternative: “Unstable,” “Erratic,” or “Unpredictable.”

“Dumb”

Implication: Historically referred to someone who could not speak, but commonly used to mean unintelligent.

Alternative: “Speechless” (if literal) or “Uninformed,” “Unwise” (if meant as unintelligent).

More Respectful Alternatives

“Autistic person” vs. “Person with autism”: While person-first language is often preferred (“person with autism”), some communities, such as many in the autistic community, prefer identity-first language (“autistic person”). It’s important to ask and respect individual preferences.

“Learning disability” vs. “Learning difficulty”: The term “learning disability” is often used in the U.S., while “learning difficulty” is more common in the U.K. It’s crucial to use the term preferred by the person or the community you are addressing.

“Seizure disorder” vs. “Epileptic”: “Seizure disorder” focuses on the condition rather than defining the person by it.