How do people address persons with disabilities?

The following is a general guide about some common words used in reference to people with disabilities and what are appropriate and inappropriate.

APPROPRIATE
People/person with disability People without disability People/person with visual impairment Deaf people/person

INAPPROPRIATE
Disabled people/person People with special needs Normal people / People living normal lives Blind / Blind person/people PWVI / The blind The deaf, The hearing impaired Hearing impaired person/people Dumb / Dumb person/people Mute / Mute person Speech impaired person Deaf and dumb person The deaf and dumb Deaf mute Mentally retarded / Mentally challenged Physically challenged person Infirm / The physically disabled / PWD Wheelchair person / Wheelchair user Suffering from a hearing impairment Bravely fighting her hardness of hearing The team includes five PWDs

People/person with speech impairment

Deaf people/person with speech impaired People/person with learning disability/ies People/person with physical disability Person who uses a wheelchair She is a deaf person/person with disability [apply the same language to any other type of disability] The team includes five people with physical disabilities

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Coordination Office: 12-D The Valero Tower, 122 Valero St. (Accessible Entrance: San Agustin St.) Salcedo Viillage, Makati City 1227 Tel: +63 (2) 812 6990 Fax: +63 (2) 892 4583 info@handicapinternational.ph

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