Resources for Reporters

Press Releases | Person-First Language | Definitions | Resources

INTRODUCTION

Media Matters is an initiative of the Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire designed to increase awareness about the importance of culturally sensitive language and images when reporting about individuals with disabilities and their families.

The IOD was established in 1987 with a mission to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities into their schools and communities. The Institute works with students and faculty, conducts statewide trainings, participates in grant-funded model demonstration projects, conducts research and engages in collaborative partnerships with other statewide organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of persons with disabilities and their families.

WORDS MATTER

The following guidelines are suggestions for using language in a more sensitive manner that avoids reducing individuals to a series of labels, symptoms, or medical terms. Advocating for media representatives to be aware of how they use language regarding individuals with disabilities and their families does not suppress freedom of speech. Rather, these suggestions are intended to guide media representatives about how words really do make a difference.

The Importance of Putting People First

Media representatives know how important it is to use language carefully. When communicating about individuals, it is good practice to avoid putting a label or condition prior to an individual's name or title. Many subjects that are reported about already use person-first language. Think of all the times you have read or heard something similar to the following examples:

  • Susan, who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, is now in remission.
  • Jim experiences memory problems as a result of brain damage caused by a car accident.
  • Jenny has fibromyalgia, a condition that causes symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, weakness and fatigue.

When it comes to reporting about individuals with disabilities and their families, however, it is still far too common to place the disability before the person. Phrases such as 'Jim is a retarded 48-year-old,' is an example of how some communicators still place a disability prior to an individual. Stated simply, person-first language places an individual prior to her or his disability. For example, if Judy has a visual impairment or is blind, you would place Judy first in the sentence even if the story directly deals with her impairment: "Kate and Will's daughter, Judy, is an 18-year-old soccer player who experiences visual impairment."

The following list depicts phrases and terms that are appropriate, given our understanding of person-first language as well as terms and phrases to avoid using:

PREFERRED AVOID
accessible parking/accommodations handicapped accessible
children with disabilities special children
nondisabled able-bodied
individual with a disability crippled, physically challenged, handicapped
individual with epilepsy epileptic
individual with a learning disability slow learner
individual with multiple sclerosis (MS) person who suffers from MS
individual who is blind or visually impaired the blind
individual who is deaf or hearing impaired the deaf
individual who uses a wheelchair wheelchair-bound/confined to a wheelchair
individual of short stature dwarf or midget
stroke survivor/had a stroke stroke victim/suffered from a stroke
Individual with dyslexia dyslexic

DEFINITIONS

The following entries provide terminology assistance and grammar tips:

able-bodied: The term able-bodied should be avoided and is not accurate to describe a person who does not have a disability. Accessible environments and adaptive equipment allow many individuals with disabilities to be able-bodied. Use the term non-disabled or the phrase does not experience a disability when it is necessary to distinguish that a person does not have a disability. Avoid using the term able-bodied.

accessible, accessibility: Use accessible when describing a space, location or event that is modified to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Accessible modifications allow unrestricted admittance to accommodate individuals who may or may not use a wheelchair as a result of mobility impairments as well as individuals who may have sensory impairments. The term accessibility also includes modifications for individuals who communicate in different languages, have hearing or vision impairments, and other cognitive and learning disabilities.

ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act.

autism:Autism is a mental disorder characterized by indicators such as significant language dysfunction, withdrawal from reality, difficulty interacting socially, and repetitive behavior. Use the phrase individual with autism. Avoid the term autistic.

deinstitutionalization:A movement that strives to relocate individuals with disabilities from segregated institutional environments to supportive and inclusive community settings.

disability:A term used to define restriction(s) that complicate an individual's ability to perform activities or have experiences considered to be typical among individuals who do not experience a disability. Such restrictions may be permanent or temporary, and may fluctuate depending upon the disability and the resources available.

Down syndrome: Not Down's syndrome.

inclusion: A term that implies that all individuals with a disability, regardless of their ability, are part of typical classrooms, schools, local and world communities. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its 1997 amendments make it clear that schools have a duty to educate children with disabilities in general education classrooms.

person-first language: person-first language seeks to avoid reducing people to a set of labels. When writing about disability or health-related issues, this effort avoids placing a disability or condition before an individual. We are all people first, no matter what labels we have acquired.

regular education initiative: A term used to describe the movement from segregated learning environments to educational settings that encourage collaborative and inclusive relationships between general and special education programs.

Seeing Eye Dog: A trademark for a guide dog trained by Seeing Eye Inc. of Morristown, N.J. Use personal assistance animal, companion animal, or service animal.

special education: Educational services including instruction, as well as related services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, and speech and language therapy that are designed to ensure students with disabilities receive the supports and services needed to meet educational goals.

wheelchair: Avoid the phrases confined to a wheelchair or wheelchair user. Instead, use phrases such as uses a wheelchair, and other person-first configurations.

RESOURCES

The following resources provide journalists with the tools they need to communicate effectively and appropriately about individuals with disabilities and topics related to disability issues.

The American Press Institute

http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/pages/toolbox/

This online resource includes a "Reporter's Toolbox" that provides current information about reporting on issues that relate to diverse populations, including individuals with disabilities.

The American Psychological Association

http://www.apastyle.org/disabilities.html

The Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology has created a useful set of guidelines for writing about disabilities in APA journals. While journalists often rely on the Associated Press Stylebook for grammar and language usage, the APA's guidelines provide additional information about using "non-handicapping" language.

The Associated Press

http://www.apbookstore.com

The Associated Press Stylebook is widely used among journalists, and includes a section on disabilities.

Disability is Natural

http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/peoplefirstlanguage.htm

This Web site reviews the history of and current trends in person-first language.

National Center on Disability and Journalism

http://www.ncdj.org/join.html

The National Center on Disability and Journalism (NCDJ) is an independent journalism organization with a mission to educate journalists and educators about disability reporting to produce more accurate, fair and diverse news reporting.