Instead of…	Say….
The handicapped/disabled.	People with disabilities.
He’s autistic.	He has autism.
She is learning disabled.	She has a learning disability.
She is a quadriplegic.	She has a physical disability.
He’s a diabetic.	He has diabetes.
He is confined to a wheelchair.	He uses a wheelchair.

Some of the terms that are still used in our society are out-of-date and offensive. For instance, “handicapped” and “crippled” are inappropriate terms that still get thrown around quite a bit. These are derogatory terms that can suggest pity, fear, or even disgust. Another inappropriate word is “disabled.” This term refers to something that is broken down (such as a disabled vehicle). People with disabilities are not broken! Recently, we have realized how much it hurts when people are referred to as “retarded” or as having “mental retardation.” It is the stigma associated with “retardation” that has led to the national campaign to “Spread the word to end the word”.” This campaign is bringing people together to change the way we speak as a nation. You can visit the site to find more information and pledge to stop using the r-word today (www.r-word.org). These changes in language, and how we refer to people, are all rooted in the fact that we should always treat others how we would want to be treated.

By using inappropriate language—language that does not put the person first—we are labeling people according to their disability. Labeling can have an extremely stigmatizing effect on people and those labels tend to stay with them for a long time. Just remember, labeling people leads to harmful portrayals and stereotypes. The only label that a person—any person—should ever have is their name.