Communicating about disabilities can be tricky. Writers strive to be respectful and sensitive in their choice of words, but there isn’t universal agreement on how to do that and when a line is being crossed.
One key issue is whether language should be “person-first” or “identity-first.” Should someone be described as “a person with a disability” (person-first) or “a disabled person” (identity-first)?
The trend has been toward person-first wording, which is said to avoid the negativity of “labels” that marginalize or dehumanize. Advocates of person-first language say it emphasizes the humanity of a subject while identity-first language “reinforces the labels we place upon people.“
Not everyone is onboard with this line of reasoning, however. Critics of person-first phrasing contend that it seems to treat disability as something we should avoid thinking about – or, to put it another way, it “essentially buys into the stigma it claims to be fighting.” Many prefer to identify, and be identified, as disabled persons or autistic persons and the like.
So, which is the correct approach? Person-first or identity-first? The short answer is that it doesn’t have to be either/or.
The Associated Press points the way to a sensible and appropriate course.
First, the news agency advises that either person-first or identity-first language is acceptable, but writers should ask their subjects which terminology they prefer. The question of whether to say “disabled person” or “person with a disability” is quite important to some people, so asking the question could spare you an angry phone call later on.
AP also directs journalists not to use euphemisms such as “differently abled” and “physically challenged,” except in direct quotations or when used by people to describe themselves.
I believe the most important advice from AP is to “refer to a disability only if relevant to the story.” If the computer programmer you’re using as a source has cerebral palsy, but her CP has nothing to do with the article topic, then why mention it?
The AP guidance, which includes many other helpful pointers, is behind a paywall. I can access it as a subscriber to the AP Stylebook online, but you may not be able to read it. Useful free online resources (such as a primer at wikiHow, and a style guide at NCDJ.org ) can be found with a simple “writing about disability” search on Google or DuckDuckGo. You might also consult an editor who is well grounded in inclusive language.