Consumer Program Advisory Council | Disability Awareness

Disability Awareness

Examples of People First Language

Say	Instead of
people with disabilities	the handicapped or disabled
he has a cognitive disability	he�s mentally retarded
she has autism	she�s autistic
he has Down syndrome	he�s Downs
she has a learning disability	she�s learning disabled
he has a physical disability	he�s a quadriplegic/crippled
she�s of short stature	she�s a dwarf (or midget)
he has an emotional disability	he�s emotionally disturbed
she uses a wheelchair	she�s wheelchair bound / she�s confined to a wheelchair
he receives special ed services	he�s in special ed
typical kids/kids without disabilities	normal or healthy kids
congenital disability	birth defect
brain injury	brain damaged
accessible parking	handicapped parking
she needs . . . or she uses . . .	she has a problem with . . .