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Language Guidelines
Words can open doors to enable persons with disabilities to
lead fuller, more independent lives. Words also create barriers
or stereotypes that are not only demeaning to persons with
disabilities, but which also rob them of their individuality.
The following language guidelines have been developed by experts
in intellectual disabilities for use by anyone writing or speaking
about persons with disabilities to ensure that all people
are portrayed with individuality and dignity.
Appropriate terminology
- Special Olympics Maryland provides year-round
sports training to children and adults with intellectual
disabilities
and/or closely-related developmental disabilities
- A person has an intellectual disability, rather
than is suffering from, afflicted with, or a victim of
intellectual disabilities.
- Individuals, persons or people with
intellectual disabilities.
- A person uses a wheelchair rather than is
confined or restricted to a wheelchair.
- Distinguish between adults and children
with intellectual disabilities. Use adults or children, or older
or younger athletes. Down syndrome, not "Down's Syndrome"
and mongoloid is ancient.
- Refer to participants in Special Olympics
as athletes. In no case should the word appear in quotation
marks. When writing, refer to persons with a disability
in the same style as persons without a disability: full
name on first reference and last name on subsequent reference.
An athlete should be referred to as "Bill Smith"
or "Smith" never "Bill."
- A person is physically challenged or disabled
rather than crippled.
- Use the words Special Olympics Inc.
when referring to the worldwide Special Olympics program.
Terminology to avoid
- Do not use the label kids when referring
to Special Olympics athletes. Adult athletes are an integral
part of the program.
- Do not use the adjective unfortunate when
talking about persons with intellectual disabilities.
- Disabling conditions do not have to be life-defining
in a negative way.
- Do not use the word "the" in front of Special
Olympics unless describing a specific Special Olympics event
or official.
- Do not sensationalize the accomplishments
of persons with disabilities. While these accomplishments
should be recognized and applauded, people in the disability
rights movement have tried to make the public aware of the
negative impact of referring to the achievements of physically
or mentally challenged people with excessive hyperbole.
- Do not use the word special when talking
about persons with intellectual disabilities. The term is distancing
and inappropriate and describes that which is different
about any person.
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