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Avoid euphemistic language Language like “ differentlyabled ” or “ diverse-ability ” suggests there is something wrong with talking honestly and candidly about disability . It might even suggest to some people that there is something shameful about disability ; or that we can ’ t talk about it directly unless we make it cute or pretty or funny .
Avoid unnecessary emotional tone Disability is a fact of life for
almost one-quarter of Canadians . Having a disability doesn ’ t make someone a hero , a saint , a victim , a burden or a soldier . This type of hyperbole gets in the way of having authentic relationships with people with disabilities . These words suggest onedimensional characters . Instead , think : complex , interesting people , just like everyone else .
Avoid ‘ handicap ’ The word handicap or handicapped is viewed as having a negative connotation - an implication that people with disabilities are disadvantaged in society . That social disadvantage is something we should fight against , rather than merely accept and enshrine in language .
Avoid calling a disabled person a ‘ patient ’ A patient is a passive individual who has turned over responsibility for important decisions to a health professional . People with disabilities for the most part live independent lives in the community . They are no more patients than anyone else getting on with their lives in the community .
Avoid calling nondisabled people ‘ normal ’ If non-disabled people are normal , then that means that disabled people are abnormal . Yet disability is the norm for some people . It is alienating and marginalizing to classify someone as “ abnormal .”
Refer to a person ’ s disability ? Is the disability a pertinent issue in the conversation you are having or the introduction you are making ? We don ’ t specify a person ’ s gender , ethnicity , occupation or many other personal details when introducing them . Disability is a condition of life , like those others . It will be salient in some conversations and not in others .
Here are some ‘ dos ’ Do look people with disabilities in the eyes and address them courteously , as you would anyone else .
Do ask if you can help , and how you can help .
Do assume that people with disabilities have something to say , and be prepared to hear it .
Do talk about disability . It ’ s a
fact of life for 22 per cent of Canadians .
The more we talk about it , the easier it gets to have the important conversations we need to have with disabled people , and to ensure that the rights we promise to all Canadians are extended to them .
Author :
Mary Ann McColl Professor , Queen ' s University , Ontario This article is republished from
The Conversation under a Creative Commons license . Read the
original article .