(Graphical version of this page)
You are here: OLRS Home
> Resources
> Person First Language
Person first language is when you put the person first when writing or talking about a person with a disability. Using person first language emphasizes the person rather than their diagnosis, symptoms, or medical condition. Person first language also avoids the use of outdated terms and emphasizes a person's abilities (e.g., "he uses a wheelchair" rather than "he is confined to a wheelchair"). The following are some examples. To learn more about person first language and to see more examples, refer to the links following this list.
| Use | Don't use |
|---|---|
| person who has a disability | handicapped or disabled person |
| children with disabilities | special needs children |
| mental health problem or challenge | mentally ill |
| person with or experiencing schizophrenia | schizophrenic or schizo |
| accessible parking | handicapped parking |
| congenital disability | birth defect |
| deaf or hard of hearing | hearing impaired |
| Down syndrome | Mongol, Mongoloid, or Downs |
| person with epilepsy | epileptic |
| person with cerebral palsy | person who suffers from cerebral palsy |
| individual who is blind or has low vision | the blind |
| person with an intellectual disability or person with a developmental disability | retarded |
| person with a brain injury | brain damaged |
This page contains links to resources on other Web sites that may be of assistance to people with disabilities. OLRS does not guarantee that the information provided within the destination link is accurate or right for the particular needs of the person. Once you follow a link away from the OLRS Web site, refer to that site's privacy policy and disclaimer statements.