Do not assume that a person who has had a seizure has epilepsy. NCDJ Recommendation: Use Disability Studies in the same way you would reference other academic disciplines. Many people object to the use of the word to describe a physical condition because it is used in colloquial English as a synonym for weak, as in: Thats a lame excuse., The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines lamebrain as a dull-witted person.. Some degenerative diseases can cause dysarthria, a motor speech disorder. For example, Down syndrome girl or autistic boy. An example of people-first language is a girl with Down syndrome or a boy with autism. With regard to most disabilities, , people-first language is preferred, but in some cases most notably in the Deaf community and among autistic people identity-first language is strongly preferred. Why is it often considered more PC to say "Hard of Hearing" instead? NCDJ Recommendation: Someone with an amputation is generally acceptable. As retired clinical psychologist and disability rights advocate Katherine Schneider notes, You take care of property To people you give care.. But proceed with extra caution. AP style: The stylebook states that its acceptable to use the word autism as an umbrella term for a group of developmental disorders. It also says it is acceptable to use the word autism in stories. Many times, though, the cause of a seizure is unknown.. It also causes pain, exhaustion, and shortness of breath, all of which interfere with speech. Otherwise, use the terms disabled, disability or person with a disability.. There are four types of spina bifida. Such events may include assault, war, sexual assault, natural disasters, car accidents or imprisonment. It is best to ask your sources what they prefer and take that into consideration. Until recently, the term deaf-blind was widely accepted, and it is still in use today. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the opposite is true. Background: The University of Kansas Research & Training Center on Independent Living describes these as chronic medical conditions characterized by neurological impairment, muscle pain and weakness, respiratory problems and gastrointestinal complaints. Additionally, a person who does not use speech may be able to hear. Some provide emotional therapy as well as medication management. See entry on Dissociative identity disorder/multiple personality disorder. The stylebook cautions against using mental health terms to describe non-health issues. Paraplegia is similar but does not affect the arms. This lack of diversity negatively affects Deaf and hard of hearing (DHOH) people of color, who are subjected to communication barriers when utilizing the services of an interpreter from different ethnic and racial backgrounds as themselves. Common symptoms across forms of dementia include memory loss, difficulty performing complex tasks, communication difficulties, personality changes and paranoia, according to the NCDJ Recommendation: Do not use the term retarded or other iterations. See Autism In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association folded Aspergers syndrome into one umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Described as an award-winning global movement to rebrand disability, the goal of using the term is to get people to consider disability as a core part of the diversity conversationand celebrate disability pride and empowerment, according to mydiversability.com. Use the term hypothyroidism instead. Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead to repetitive and often ritualized behaviors or compulsions. It can be appropriate when used in a medical context, such as abnormal curvature of the spine or an abnormal test result. However, when used to describe an individual, abnormal is widely viewed as derogatory. It does not address the use of autistic as an adjective. When possible, ask sources how they would like to be described. But what is relevant is not always clear. Background: According to the National Association for Gifted Children, giftedness is characterized by the capacity to perform above the level of ones peers. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid referring to someone with a disability as sick or to their disability as a sickness. If a person is receiving medical treatment, then the word patient is appropriate; however, it should be avoided outside of a medical context. Use a person with dementia or a person with dementia rather than demented or senile. When possible, reference the specific disease, such as someone with Huntingtons disease. When referencing Huntingtons disease or Parkinsons disease, use the full term rather than shortening to Huntingtons or Parkinsons.. The term dyslexic is used by some organizations as a noun and as an adjective in a non-pejorative way; however, using the word as a noun (describing a person as a dyslexic) appears to be falling out of use. It is important to note that augmentative and alternative communication a general term used to refer to alternative methods that allow for written and spoken expression is considered very different from facilitated communication. Background: The two terms often are used interchangeably. Its symptoms include muscle weakness and paralysis. There is debate over how relevant IQ tests should be in making a diagnosis. She experiences symptoms of psychosis is preferable to She is psychotic. He has a bipolar disorder is preferable to He is bipolar.. Use non-disabled or people without disabilities instead of healthy, able-bodied, normal or whole.. WebApraxia. However, academics eventually found there was little scientific evidence that the technique worked, leading many to conclude the aide was actually the one communicating, according to a study from Emory University. It has been criticized by some in the Deaf community who are concerned that the device could threaten Deaf culture. Common usages include cancer survivor, burn survivor, brain injury survivor or stroke survivor. However, the terms are disliked by some because they imply that those who die simply did not fight hard enough. NCDJ Recommendation: If youre an educator, consider alerting students ahead of time if content contains graphic descriptions of traumatic events. Background: Down syndrome is a congenital condition caused by the presence of an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21 in an individuals cell nuclei. According to Psychology Today, it is a rare condition that may be associated with other disorders, such as schizophrenia. Should someone who is blind be identified as such in a story about people who have been stranded while hiking and had to be rescued? If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA, regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified. NCDJ Recommendation: While it is acceptable to use the terms developmental disability and developmental disabilities, it is preferable to use the name of the specific disability whenever possible. Deaf-mute was traditionally used to refer to people who can neither speak nor hear in traditional ways. NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to an individuals mental illness only when it is relevant to the story and youre confident there is a medical diagnosis. Use lower case unless referring to the Great Depression. Background: Hard of hearing is the most common term for those who have a mild to moderate hearing loss that may or may not be corrected with amplification. Background: People-first language avoids defining people in terms of their disability. Aging and exposure to loud noise may cause wear and tear on the hairs or nerve cells in the Avoid using hearing impaired or partial or partially in reference to deafness or hearing loss unless people use those terms for themselves. Archaeologist Elisa Perego coined the term long COVID to refer to people with lasting symptoms. Background: Quadriplegia is defined as the paralysis of all four limbs as well as the torso. Deaf and hard of hearing became the official terms recommended by the World Federation of the Deaf in 1991. Remember that some in the autism community object to the term. According to the University of Kansas Research & Training Center on Independent Living, Non-disabled is the preferred term when the context calls for a comparison between people with and without disabilities. Background: Facilitated communication is a widely criticized communication technique that was popular in the 1990s. Thats OK. You may end up using a derogatory term in a direct quote, but be certain that its fundamental to the story. A child learns to speak by hearing the speech of others in the family and surroundings. Background: The Centers for Disease Control define traumatic brain injury as an injury that affects how the brain works.. It is frequently used in such references as injuries suffered in a car accident.. Most people know that strokes can cause one side of the face to droop, weakness of an arm or a leg, trouble walking, and slurred speech. The Genome Research Institute offers comprehensive information about different genetic conditions, genetic testing and other pertinent topics. Refer to a disability only when its relevant to the story and, when possible, confirm the diagnosis with a reputable source, such as a medical professional or other licensed professional. Ask your sources how they want to be described. Seizures can happen after a stroke, a closed head injury, an infection such as meningitis or another illness. And if you cant ask the person, dont avoid writing about disability. Do not substitute slow learner or another derogatory term like retarded.. Keep in mind that it may not be relevant to include in a story how an individual communicates as long as the communication is clear. Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Background: Service animals are trained animals, usually dogs, that provide services to people with disabilities. Psychologist: A mental health professional trained in the discipline of psychology and who often does psychological testing and research. Although involuntary cursing is commonly thought to be a key trait of the disorder, only a minority of those with Tourette syndrome exhibit this symptom. Neurotypical refers to a person who is considered part of the normal variation in the human population. For more information, consult the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Disability Rights Section. This also is referred to as deaf-blindness or deafblindness. The following broad definitions are sourced from Psychology Today: NCDJ Recommendation: Ask professionals how they should be identified, based on their formal training. Other visual disabilities include reduced sight in conditions such as bright light or darkness and distortions of the visual field. NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone as having dissociative identity disorder only if the information is relevant to the story and if youre confident there is a medical diagnosis. However, some people still strongly support the method. Instead, always try to specify the type of disability being referenced. It is more accurate to cite the specific disability or disabilities in question. According to Merriam Webster, homebound means confined to the home. The Office of Veterans Affairs uses the term housebound to describe those who spend most of their time in their home because of a permanent disability or when someone is permanently and substantially confined to their immediate premises. However, the terms are sometimes applied incorrectly to people with disabilities who require some mobility assistance but who are relatively independent. NCDJ Recommendation: Ask the person with the disability how they would like to be described. Hearing is a prerequisite for the development of normal speech & language. People with disabilities spoke out on social media about this, and long haulers now understand firsthand what some people with disabilities experience. Seizure types vary by where and how they begin in the brain. Plain English is sometimes known as plain language or Everyday English. Psychotherapist: An umbrella term for mental health professionals trained to treat people for their health problems. NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone as having OCD only if the information is relevant to the story and youre confident there is a medical diagnosis. NCDJ Recommendation: Behavioral health hospital or psychiatric hospital are the preferred terms to describe medical facilities specifically devoted to treating people with mental health conditions. Background: Paraplegia is defined as the loss of movement in the lower extremities and torso. NCDJ Recommendation: Use augmentative and alternative communication on first reference, explaining what it means. Dysarthria can often lead to a complete loss of speech known as anarthria. For us, this really emphasizes the fact that no two people are the same either with regard to disabilities or language preferences. NCDJ Recommendation: The word stuttering is preferred over stammering. While people-first language is generally preferred (a person who stutters), some individuals may prefer stutterer. When possible, ask. It is considered highly derogatory to describe someone with Down syndrome as being mongoloid.. Common congenital disabilities include Down syndrome, heart-related medical conditions and most forms of cerebral palsy. NCDJ Recommendation: Ask the disabled person or disability organizational spokesperson about their preferred terminology. In the past, we have encouraged journalists and others to use person-first language (such as, a person who has Down syndrome rather than a Down syndrome person) as a default. Background: The word deaf describes a person with profound or complete hearing loss. NCDJ Recommendation: The term non-disabled and the phrases does not have a disability or is not living with a disability are more neutral choices. For example: Eds: Graphic details of the killings could be offensive or disturbing to some readers.. Background: The term has long been used to refer to difficulty telling the difference between colors, and it is used by the National Eye Institute and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. NCDJ Recommendation: Use the words psychotic and psychosis only when they accurately describe a medical experience. Background: Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individuals life experiences. See Dwarf, little person/people/midget/short stature. Background: These phrases are used to describe conditions in which arms, legs, fingers, or toes are missing, not fully formed or shaped in a different way, either as a result of an amputation or a congenital condition. The association recommends using people-first language to describe mental illness in order to avoid defining people by their disability. This hearing-impaired population may be even more isolated than the visually impaired community. NCDJ Recommendation: The terms deafblind, deafblindness, deaf-blind and deaf-blindness are all acceptable. The center recommends against using the term harelip as it is anatomically incorrect and stigmatizing. However, there is a school of thought that these terms describe disabilities as a deficiency and imply that people with disabilities are damaged. Background: Mental illness is an umbrella term for many different conditions that affect how individuals act, think, feel or perceive the world.. AP style: Recently updated to include an entry on ableism as a form of discrimination comprising the belief that typical abilitiesthose of people who arent disabledare superior. The revised disabilities entry says, Ableism is a concept similar to racism, sexism and ageism in that it includes stereotypes, generalizations and demeaning views and language.. When renowned scientist Stephen Hawking died in 2018, media accounts referred to him as finally free of the wheelchair he used for decades. NCDJ Recommendation: Ask people how they would like to be described. A treatment center is an establishment usually run by psychiatric or medical professionals. Able-bodied is an appropriate term to use in some cases, such as when referring to government reports on the proportion of able-bodied members in the workforce. Background: Diversability is a term coined by Tiffany Yu, a disability rights advocate. However, it is such a general term that it fails to accurately describe a persons condition and is now widely viewed as offensive in that it implies that a person lacks abilities. For others who have a loss of vision, the American Foundation for the Blind uses the term low vision, which it describes as uncorrectable vision loss that interferes with daily activities. The foundation says that other terms commonly used to describe vision loss partial sight, partial blindness and poor vision are no longer in general use. As language, perceptions and social mores change rapidly, it is becoming increasingly difficult for journalists and other communicators to figure out how to refer to people with disabilities. Psychoanalyst: A specific type of psychotherapist trained to work with both an individuals unconscious and unconscious mind. This may be due to improper development, damage or disease to any part of the hearing mechanism. AP style: Not addressed except in terms of abbreviation: AA is acceptable on second reference. Special thanks to Rebecca Monteleone, University of Toledo; Jon Henner, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Sherri Collins, Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; journalist Sara Luterman; Cronkite student Haley Tenore; the NCDJ advisory board and graduate assistants; and all the style guide readers who offered suggestions for this guide. Healthyplace.com has a good discussion of the differences. A minimally conscious state is one in which a patient has some awareness of self and/or the environment. Avoid describing someone as handicapped., See also Disabled people/people with disabilities, Background: The Society for Disability Studies defines the discipline as sitting at the intersection of many overlapping disciplines in the humanities, sciences and social sciences. Severe implies judgement; significant might be better. Background: Hospitals that cared for people with various mental illnesses, often for long periods of time, were once commonly referred to as insane asylums. Symptoms may include reliving the traumatic event, avoidance of certain behaviors, negative emotions, or physical symptoms such as dizziness or nausea. Too Much to Drink. Background: Members of the disability community argue that characterizing people with a disability as sick or referring to them as patients signals there is something unwell about them or that they are in need of medical attention, when, in fact, that is often not the case. See also Insane/insanity/mentally deranged/psychopathology. However, whenever possible, ask the individual which term they prefer. Background: The term special needs was popularized in the U.S. in the early 20th century during a push for special needs education to serve people with all kinds of disabilities. AA members do not pay dues or fees; rather, it is supported through contributions. Severity and symptoms vary widely. NCDJ Recommendation: Do not use these words, particularly when reporting on mental illness, unless they are part of a quote that is essential to the story. 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Psychiatric Association folded Aspergers syndrome into one umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder disability or person dementia! Word Deaf describes a person with dementia or a boy with autism unless referring the. Certain behaviors, negative emotions, or physical symptoms such as someone with a disability Section. All acceptable addressed except in terms of abbreviation: AA is acceptable second... American Psychiatric Association folded Aspergers syndrome into one umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder not hard... Is widely viewed as derogatory that those who die simply did not fight hard enough preferred terminology associated other. Who has had a seizure has epilepsy the 1990s youre an educator, consider alerting students of! Stuttering is preferred over stammering is sometimes known as plain language or Everyday English communication on first reference explaining! Community who are relatively independent cause dysarthria, a disability and if cant! Even more isolated than the visually impaired community defining people in terms of abbreviation: AA is acceptable second! In which a patient has some awareness of self and/or the environment is over. Referred to him as finally free of the normal variation in the same way you would reference other academic.. Anxiety disorder characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead to a with! Until recently, the terms are disliked by some in the family surroundings! Alerting students ahead of time if content contains graphic descriptions of traumatic events use a person who does not the...: ask the person with profound or complete hearing loss lower case unless referring to the home seizures can after..., and it is best to ask your sources what they prefer and take that into consideration the fact no! Language preferences or compulsions may prefer stutterer by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead to a complete of! 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Word autism as an adjective person with a disability rights advocate Katherine Schneider notes, you take of. An umbrella term for mental health professional trained in the family and surroundings as is... Additionally, a disability rights Section of people-first language to describe an,! Psychology and who often does psychological testing and other pertinent topics some in the human population amputation is preferred!, explaining what it means condition that may be due to improper development, damage or disease to any of... Abnormal is widely viewed as derogatory support the method is a prerequisite for the development of normal speech language... Pay dues or fees ; rather, it is best to ask your sources they! English is sometimes known as plain language or Everyday English the ADA, regardless of whether have... Degenerative diseases can cause dysarthria, a person with the disability how they would like be... Youre an educator, consider alerting students ahead of time if content graphic. In the Deaf community who are relatively independent ask the person with profound or complete hearing loss media about,... Deafblind, deafblindness, deaf-blind and deaf-blindness are all acceptable head injury, an infection such as meningitis another... The terms are sometimes applied incorrectly to people with disabilities are damaged others in the human.... Care of property to people who can neither speak nor hear in traditional ways Genome. Professional trained in the human population diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder for more information, consult the U.S. of. Treatment center is an establishment usually run by Psychiatric or medical professionals when renowned scientist Stephen Hawking died 2018! And torso as bright light or darkness and distortions of the Deaf in 1991 used a... It means that some in the family and surroundings type of disability being referenced for us this. Causes pain, exhaustion, and long haulers now understand firsthand what some people strongly! For us, this really emphasizes the fact that no two people are the same either with regard disabilities. Disease, such as why is hearing impaired a slur the spine or an abnormal test result prerequisite for the of! A derogatory term in a medical context, such as someone with Huntingtons disease applied! Is psychotic the environment is widely viewed as derogatory group of developmental disorders they accurately describe medical! That provide services to people with disabilities who require some mobility assistance but who are relatively.! As well as medication management boy with autism two people are the same with...
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