Disability and inclusion language
Our guide to writing about disability and inclusion is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
At Sightsavers, we take a rights-based approach to disability and inclusion.
This means we:
- Encourage the people we work with to understand and claim their rights
- Increase the ability and accountability of individuals and institutions responsible for upholding rights
A rights-based approach focuses on people who are excluded or discriminated against. It often involves examining gender norms, different forms of discrimination and power imbalances.
Our disability and inclusion language has its roots in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
This is the reason we mainly use the term ‘people with disabilities’ in a lot of our communications. But we can also use identity-first language (for example, the term ‘disabled people’) as needed. Some of our contributors and audiences prefer this.
Above all, always respect the dignity, agency and wishes of the people you write about. Refer to them in the way they choose, including using their preferred language/terms. This is more important than applying house style or being consistent.
Sightsavers and disability rights
We promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
More on disability rightsJoin our Equal World campaign for disability rights
More about the campaignLanguage to use
It is important to differentiate between impairment and disability. Impairment is the injury, illness or condition that can cause a loss or difference of function. Disability refers to the loss of opportunities to take part in society because of social and environmental barriers.
Frequently used terms in Sightsavers communications
- People with disabilities/person with a disability (disabled people/person). In most cases use ‘people with disabilities/person with a disability’. When quoting someone, try to use the language the person has used unless there’s a specific reason not to
- Person/people with [name of impairment]
- People without disabilities/person without a disability
- Persons with disabilities. Global organisations including the United Nations and the World Health Organization use this term. But it’s jarring for people who don’t work in the development sector. If your audience isn’t familiar with the term, use ‘people’ instead of ‘persons’, except where it’s part of a title or quote
- Person with a sensory impairment
- Blind person
- Partially sighted person
- Person with low vision
- Person with visual impairment
- Deaf/deaf person. There is a strong Deaf community with its own culture and sense of identity, based on a shared language. When referring to a person or people who identify as part of this community, cap up the D in Deaf. If in doubt, write ‘d/Deaf’
- Person with hearing loss
- Person who is hard of hearing
- Person who is deafblind
- Person who uses a wheelchair
- Person with cerebral palsy
Other impairments and disabilities
Refer to the disability-inclusive language guidelines published by the United Nations office in Geneva.
Language to avoid
If these terms appear in quotes in translated interviews, change them to more appropriate terminology. If they appear in quotes in English, use your judgement and either avoid using the quote, or replace the term with a more appropriate alternative. If you do this, use square brackets to make it clear it’s an edited quote.
- Differently abled
- PWD
- Special needs
- Cripple
- Invalid
- Victim
- Handicapped
- Suffering from
- Inspiring/Brave
- Non-disabled
- Able-bodied
- Normal
- Dumb (‘non-verbal’ may be an appropriate alternative, but consider whether it’s relevant to mention)
- Deaf-mute
- Confined to a wheelchair/wheelchair-bound
- Spastic
- Midget
- Mentally handicapped
- Mentally defective
- Retarded
- Sub-normal
- Mongoloid
- Stupid
- Slow/slow learner
- Fits (when referring to someone who has epilepsy)
Avoid using ableist cliches and phrases, including ‘turn a blind eye/the blind leading the blind/fall on deaf ears’.
Never refer to people with disabilities using collective nouns: the blind, the disabled, the deaf.
Learn more about our work
Disability rights