Most individuals with an impairment do not require any extra help. The most common reason for requesting extra help is a restrictive environment. 

Do’s

• Treat disabled people with the respect and courtesy you would show to anyone else
• Offer help if it seems appropriate
• Wait until your offer is accepted before you do anything
• Listen to what the person says
• Address the person directly
• Only make the same physical contact as you would with anyone else
• Ask what their access needs are

Do Not

• Be shocked because someone may look very different to you
• Ask someone to tell you what their impairment is
• Address any accompanying person e.g. a sign-language interpreter or an assistant
• Be over familiar
• Help someone to get up or sit down without first asking if they would like some help
• Be afraid to ask a disabled person whether they need any adjustments to the workplace
  

Disability

The Disability Discrimination Act says that:

A person has a disability for the purposes of this Act if they have a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities.

The term 'disabled people' best reflects the social model of disability and is the term adopted by the Disabled People's Movement and representative organisations. 'Disabled people' includes people with physical and sensory impairments, learning difficulties and people who experience mental or emotional distress.

Impairment

'Impairment' is used to describe the grounds on which people are disabled.  Examples of 'impairments' may be physical or sensory conditions, emotional or mental distress and a learning difficulty. Disabled people will have their own personal experience of impairment and of the way society responds to their impairment

Do not be over-concerned about language. Ask and learn about what is acceptable to that person.

However some words and phrases have negative connotations and can give offence.  Never use terms like ‘handicapped’, ‘crippled,’ ‘retarded’ or “wheelchair bound.”

Don't be afraid to use common expressions which could relate to someone’s impairment, such as 'see you later' but avoid using insulting labels such as 'blind as a bat'.

Some people prefer to be referred to as a 'disabled person', others favour 'person with disabilities' do ask individuals what they prefer.

A person is not a condition.  Avoid referring to an individual by their condition.  An individual has cerebral palsy, they are not a ‘spastic.’

Someone who has epilepsy is not an epileptic. Do not refer to someone as ‘a victim of’ or ‘suffering from’ a particular condition.

Never use collective nouns such as 'the disabled' or 'the blind.' This implies people are part of a uniform group which is separate from everyone else.

Do not use language that suggests that disabled people are frail or dependent or which suggest that a disabled person should be the object of pity.

Remember that the opposite of 'disabled is not 'able-bodied' it is ‘non-disabled’.  Disability is not only physical; 'non-disabled' means neither physically nor mentally disabled.

Please note that language changes over time. Do consult to find out the current position and update your glossaries regularly.

The following is for guidance:

Acceptable Terms	Unacceptable Terms
Person who has… / person with…/ person who experienced…. E.g. Mr Smith has epilepsy	Victim of…/ crippled by…/ suffering from…/ afflicted by… / invalid / handicapped E.g. Mr Smith suffers from epilepsy, is an epileptic
Wheelchair user / person who uses a wheelchair	Wheelchair bound / confined to a wheelchair
Blind and partially sighted people / vision impaired	The Blind / blind as a bat
Deaf / hard of hearing / hearing impaired	The Deaf
People / person with a learning difficulty	The mentally handicapped / retarded / moron / imbecile / mentally deficient
Particular needs or need.	Special Needs.
Speech impaired / impairment / deaf without speech	Mute or dumb / deaf and dumb
Non-disabled person	Able bodied
Accessible Toilet	Disabled Toilet.
People with mental health problems or difficulties	Idiot, simple, stupid, mad, daft

• Equal Opportunity Definitions - Bristol City Council http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk
• “Good Talking”  Guide to Communication - ECU  2004 http://www.ecu.ac.uk/goodtalking/
•  “It Takes All Sorts” - Lesley Mansell and Daryl Gough  1994  lesley_mansell@yahoo.co.uk
• Draft:  “The Disability Etiquette Guide” – Hiten Shah, County Equalities Manager, Surrey County Council.