Language & Etiquette

What is the ‘politically correct’ way to address people with disabilities?

The way in which we use language to describe people is important, particularly because language can categorise, label and enforce stereotypes. Lack of awareness surrounding disability presents itself as a persistent barrier for individuals with disabilities. In that respect, it is important to avoid the traditional stereotypes of disability (i.e. seeing the person as the problem) and focus on more social model of disability (i.e. seeing the environment as the problem).

The phrase ‘people with disabilities’ is the preferred term amongst disability groups in Ireland.

Particular words that should be avoided include:

• Mental handicap (instead say ‘learning disability’)
• Special (instead say ‘adapted’)
• Suffering from (instead say ‘person who has’ / ‘person with’)
• Confined to a wheelchair / wheelchair bound (instead say ‘wheelchair user’)
• Deaf & dumb (instead say ‘he/she is without speech’)
• Cripple (instead say ‘person who has’ / ‘person with’)
• Disabled toilet (instead say ‘accessible toilet’)
• A dyslexic (instead say ‘he has dyslexia’)
• An epileptic (instead say ‘he has epilepsy’)

Acceptable terminology also include the following:

• Deaf
• Hard of Hearing
• Hearing Impaired
• Blind
• Visually Impaired
• Partial Sight
• Mobility Difficulties
• Able bodied people
• Mental health difficulties
• Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g. Dyslexia)

We can of course get carried away on ‘politically correct’ language. However, one rule of thumb is to find out how people themselves would like to be addressed. It is also important to remember that an unpatronising approach does not have to compromise plain language!


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