Independent Living Centre Kingston
Promoting a new perspective on disability
Empowerment Education Support

Inclusive Language

Words can influence and reinforce the public’s perception of people with disabilities. They can create either a positive view of people with disabilities or an indifferent, negative depiction. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) requires that all providers of goods & services and their employees communicate with dignity & respect to customers with disabilities.  

The following preferred words and phrases will help you choose language that is neither demeaning nor hurtful. People with disabilities prefer these terms.

What to say
What not to say
Always use terms that portray People with Disabilities in a positive way.
Do not use terms such as: victim of; sufferer; afflicted with.
Person with a disability.
Handicapped (the). 
Invalid
Non-visible disability.
Hidden disability.
A person with autism.
A person who has autism.
Autistic 

A person who has a congenital disability.
Birth defect, congenital defect. 
A person with a disability since birth.
Deformity.
A person who is blind.
Blind (the), 
A person with a visual impairment.
A person with low vision. 
A person with vision loss.  
A person with a vision disability.
Visually impaired (the)
A person with a brain injury.
A person with a head injury.
A person with an acquired brain injury.
Brain damaged.
A person who uses a wheelchair.
Confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound.
A person with a mental health disability. 
A person with a psychiatric disability.
A person who has depression.
A person with schizophrenia.
Crazy, insane, lunatic, psycho, mental, mental patient, maniac, neurotic, psychotic, unsound mind, schizophrenic.
A person with a mobility impairment or, more specifically, a person who walks with crutches.
A person who uses a walker.
A person who uses a mobility aid.
A person with arthritis, etc.
Cripple, crippled, lame.
A person who is deaf (person with profound hearing loss who communicates using sign language.)
A person who is hard of hearing (person with hearing loss who communicates primarily by speech.)
A person with a hearing loss.
When referring to the deaf community and their culture (whose preferred mode of communication is sign language) it is acceptable to use "the Deaf."
Deaf (the), hearing impaired (the).
A person who is non-verbal.
Deaf and dumb, deaf mute.
A person who is deaf-blind (person who has any combination of visual and auditory impairments.)
Deaf-Blind (the).
A person with an intellectual disability. 
A person with a developmental disability.
Mentally retarded, idiot, simple, retarded, feeble minded, imbecile.
A person with epilepsy.
A person who has seizures.
Fits, spells, attacks.
A person with a physical disability. 
Physically challenged.
A person who has muscle spasms.

Spastic.
A person with a speech impairment or impediment.
Stutterer
A person who has cerebral palsy. Person who has multiple sclerosis, etc. Person with a disability.
Victim of/suffers from/ stricken with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, etc.
For more information contact Independent Living Centre Kingston
298 Concession St., Kingston, Ontario K7K 2C1
Ph: 613-542-8353 * TTY: 613-542-8371 * Fax: 613-542-4783
Email: info@ilckingston.com * Web: www.ilckingston.com