Handicapped, disabled or handicapped: an inclusive language guide proposes to “get rid of stereotypes” about incapacity


The goal of the information revealed by COCEMFE is to not use incapacity as a noun and to at all times put ‘particular person’ earlier than it. It is advisable to get rid of phrases equivalent to “disabled, invalid, handicapped, retarded, crippled or mutilated”, amongst others. It doesn’t advocate phrases equivalent to folks with “variety” practical”, with “different capacities”, with “totally different capacities” or “particular folks”

The doc, collected by Europa Press, contains new definitions of incapacity, bodily and natural, and factors out “particular person with a incapacity” because the “most acceptable” time period to seek advice from the group, eliminating different phrases used for a very long time equivalent to “disabled, disabled , diminished, retarded, crippled or mutilated”, amongst others.

Nor does it advise phrases equivalent to folks with “practical variety”, with “different talents”, with “totally different talents” or “particular folks”. And he asks that, within the case of a comparability between somebody with and with no incapacity, this mannequin be used, and never that of mentioning somebody who doesn’t have a incapacity as somebody “regular”. “We are all regular,” emphasizes the information.

The textual content additionally corrects expressions equivalent to “particular person in a wheelchair” which, in keeping with what they level out, must be “one that makes use of a wheelchair”; or particular person “affected with fibrosis”, which must be “one that has fibrosis”.

The goal, as defined by COCEMFE, is to not use incapacity as a noun –the disabled, the blind, the epileptic, the tetraplegic– and at all times place the ‘particular person’ in entrance. Similarly, ask to not make damaging and sensational descriptions of the particular person being referred to.

“You do not undergo from a incapacity. What you undergo is discrimination once we reside in an surroundings with boundaries or lack satisfactory help to fulfill our wants,” says the group’s information.

The president of COCEMFE, Anxo Queiruga, has warned that “realizing and utilizing the best way through which folks with disabilities select to be talked about and made seen in society, of which they’re an element, is a obligatory prior step to undertake behaviors and inclusive behaviors with this social group”. Also, as he has indicated, to “normalize incapacity” and deal with the group “naturally”.

“The truth that each one of society adopts inclusive language to seek advice from folks with disabilities is important to ensure our inclusion and energetic participation in society,” he insisted.