About 54 million Americans, or 1 in 5, have a disability. People with disabilities represent a diverse group. For instance, the word “disability” applies to many different situations such as physical, developmental, medical diagnoses, chronic conditions, or injuries.
Taking into account the diverse nature of disabilities, it is important to avoid generalizations and focus on the individual. People-first language is an established way of describing individuals with disabilities in writing and in everyday conversation that emphasizes the individual over the disability. Using people-first language enforces the belief that a person is not defined by his or her disability. This language also helps to break outdated stereotypes and stops us from negatively describing someone with a disability.
Here are some examples of how to use people-first language:
| Use | Don’t Use |
| Child with special needs | Special needs child |
| Boy with a learning disability | Slow learner |
| Man with a disability | Disabled man |
| She has a mental health condition | She is mentally ill/emotionally disturbed/insane |
| He has epilepsy | Epileptic/afflicted with epilepsy/suffering from epilepsy |
Each person with a disability is a unique individual and the words we use can reinforce this. Using people-first language helps to put the focus on the person, not the disability.
For more information on people-first language guidelines, please visit the below online resources: