Writing About Disabilities

This fact sheet is designed to go beyond the AP Stylebook when writing and speaking about people with disabilities. The ADA and other civil rights laws encourage a paradigm shift in the way society views people with disabilities.

When you report, you are encouraged to do the same by portraying people with disabilities as the valuable, equal and contributing members of society that they are. By ensuring that people with disabilities are interviewed, presented and talked about positively on TV and radio and in newspapers and magazines, you can contribute to the progress made in opening attitudes for change.

Tips on Writing ADA Stories

Story Sources

When reporting on disability issues and people with disabilities, remember that they are just like everyone else. Careers, economic level and lifestyles vary and they have friends, significant others, spouses, children, families, jobs, hobbies, likes and dislikes, challenges and joys. Confining yourself or your story to one presupposed idea or image of the 54 million individuals in the United States with disabilities is limiting.

Use people with disabilities as your sources for stories wherever possible. Unless your source indicates an inability to speak, asking someone to speak on behalf of your source is not a preferred method. Unless it's central to the article, someone's disability does not have to be mentioned at all, just as it's not always necessary to describe someone's red hair or blue eyes.

Keep an open mind. Although some people with disabilities have serious illnesses, not everyone with a disability is sick, collects a benefits check or sits at home alone all day depressed and with nothing to do.

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Omit Stereotypes

People with disabilities are not courageous, heroic or brave by riding the bus or subway, working, taking a class, grocery shopping or heading to the mall or museum. People with disabilities don't consider themselves special. Most likely, they won't be able to "overcome" their disabilities, nor do they live their lives "succeeding in spite of" them. People with disabilities are not always kind, upbeat, cheerful, good for morale, or unfailingly polite.

Pity and charity don't belong in a story. This attitude is a throwback to days when people with disabilities were viewed within a medical model that viewed them as sick and broken and that they should be treated as patients. They had to be fixed and made well in order to fit into society. Similarly, the outdated charity model says "help these poor people" who can't help themselves. Today, people with disabilities feel comfortable with the way they are.

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Tone and Terminology – What to avoid

Some disability advocates use the term "super-crip" to describe subjects of stories – usually referring to athletes with disabilities – when overemphasizing how people with disabilities succeed. Some advocates have coined trendy phrases, such as “physically challenged or “mentally challenged,” to describe various disabling conditions. However, these words describe swim meets and chess games more accurately. Instead, use person-centered language.

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Person-centered Language

People with disabilities can describe themselves in any terms they wish. Some think "gimp" or "crip" is acceptable and believe that by using the words, the derogatory sting will go away. On the other hand, mainstream disability groups endorse and support person-centered language, which de-emphasizes the condition in exchange for emphasizing the individual, as an alternative.
Examples of positive, empowering words and their outdated, negative counterparts include:

Current Outdated
Person who is blind
Someone with low vision
Someone who is visually impaired		 The blind
Person who is deaf
Hard-of-hearing		 The deaf
Person who is disabled
Who has (fill in disability)		 Crippled, handicapped, lame, halt, deformed, victim, afflicted, epileptic, cerebral palsied, etc.
Non-disabled person
Person without a disability		 Temporarily able-bodied, normal person, handicapper, “differently abled,” etc.
Wheelchair user
Person who uses a wheelchair		 Wheelchair-bound
Confined to a wheelchair
Person with mental retardation
Person who is developmentally disabled		 Retarded
Mentally defective
Person with a psychiatric disability Crazy
Nuts
Seizure Fit
Unable to speak
Uses synthetic speech		 Dumb
Mute
Successful
Productive		 Overcame his/her disability
Person of short stature Dwarf
Midget
Person with a learning disability The learning disabled
Says she has a disability Admits she has a disability
Person who no longer lives in an institution The deinstitutionalized

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Interviewing Guidelines

  1. Converse directly with the person who has a disability, not to a companion or interpreter. Use the same interviewing techniques and manner as you usually do. Speak in relaxed, everyday tones.
  2. If appropriate, sit in a chair at eye level with the person. You and your source will be more comfortable.
  3. Always introduce yourself to people who cannot see you. Otherwise, they won't know you're there.
  4. Listen fully and carefully to what someone says, especially if he or she has difficulty speaking. Using close-ended questions or paraphrasing is helpful. If necessary, follow up in writing.
  5. When talking with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, be careful not to inadvertently cover your mouth with your hand, as some individuals lip-read in addition to using an interpreter.
  6. Ask before offering to help someone with a disability. For example, a wheelchair is considered an individual’s personal space; don't lean on it and ask whether the he or she needs or wants mobility assistance. If you want to serve as a guide for someone who is blind, ask them what to do before taking their arm and leading them somewhere. Service and guide dogs are not pets. Always ask the person whether it would be OK to pet the animal.
  7. If in-person or telephone interviews are not feasible, use letter, TTY or e-mail.

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Sources

Cohen, Judy. (1998). Disability Etiquette: Tips on Interacting with People with Disabilities. Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association and Access Resources.

Hartman, T.S. & Johnson, Mary. (1993). About All Those Language Guidelines. In Making News: How to Get News Coverage for Disability Rights Issues, 155-157. The Advocado Press.

Communicating With and About People with Disabilities. (1995). The President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.

Language Guide on Disability. (1990). The California Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.

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