Appropriate terminology

It is important to ensure that the language used when referring to people with disabilities is appropriate and acceptable and will not cause offence. For instance, use:

Disabled” rather than “Handicapped or person with a disability”

Disabled people, deaf people” rather than “The disabled, the deaf”

Non-disabled” rather than “normal”

Person with a physical impairment” rather than “deformed”

Different” rather than “abnormal”

Person who has a learning difficulty” rather than “retarded or mentally handicapped”

Wheelchair user” rather than “wheelchair bound”

A woman who has MS” rather than “An MS woman”

A person who has”…..rather than “A victim or sufferer of…….”

A person with a speech impediment” rather than Mute or dummy”

"Accessible facilities” rather than “disabled toilet”