People With Disabilities
 

People with disabilities are not conditions or diseases. They are individual human beings.

For example, a person is not an epileptic but rather a person who has epilepsy.

First and foremost they are people. Only secondarily do they have one or more disabling conditions. Hence, they prefer to be referred to in print or broadcast media as People with Disabilities.

In any story, article, announcement or advertisement, "people with disabilities" should be used either exclusively or, at a minimum, as the initial reference.   Subsequent references can use the terms "person with a disability" or "individuals with disabilities" for grammatical or narrative reasons.  In conclusion, the appropriate and preferred initial reference is "people with disabilities."

Please refer to the Glossary of Acceptable Terms for a complete listing of acceptable terms and appropriate applications.

  Return to the Disability Etiquette Page