Language Inclusivity For
Persons With Disability
Definition of terms
Language - refers to any socially and culturally accepted, structured symbolic
system for interpersonal communication composed of sounds, letters, manual sign
or other symbols arranged in ordered sequences or strings that express thoughts,
intentions, experiences and feelings comprised of orthographic, phonological,
syntactic, semantic or pragmatic components.
(RA 11249 Section 3(d))
Inclusivity - the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and
resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as
those having physical or intellectual disabilities or belonging to other minority
groups.
(Oxford Languages)
Disability - shall mean (1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more
psychological, physiological or anatomical function of an individual or activities of such individual; (2) a
record of such an impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment
(RA 7277 Section 4(c))
Impairment - is any loss, diminution or aberration of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure of
function
(RA 7277 Section 4(b))
Handicap - refers to a disadvantage for a given individual resulting from an impairment or a disability, that
limits or prevents the functions or activity, that is considered normal given the age and sex of the individual
(RA 7277 Section 4(d))
Disabled Persons - are those suffering from restriction of different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical
or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a
human being
(RA 7277 Section 4(a))
Ableism - discrimination in favor of able-bodied people
(Oxford Languages)
Disability Laws in the Philippines
- RA 7277 - Magna Carta for Disabled Person
- RA 10070 - Amending Section 40 of RA 7277
- RA 9442 - Amending RA 7277 and creating new title, chapter, and section
- RA 11106 - The Filipino Sign Language Act
DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE
GUIDELINES
United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy
1. USE PEOPLE-FIRST LANGUAGE
- People-first language is the most widely accepted language for referring
to persons with disabilities. It is also the language used in the Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- Emphasizes the person, not the disability, by placing a reference to the
person or group before the reference to the disability.
- Ex. “person who is blind”, “children with albinism”, “persons with
disabilities”
2. AVOID LABELS AND STEREOTYPES
- Disability is a part of life and of human diversity, not something to be dramatized or
sensationalized
- It is patronizing and should be avoided.
- Portrayal of persons with disabilities as intrinsically vulnerable is inappropriate.
Vulnerability is produced by external circumstances and is not innate or intrinsic to
the person or group concerned.
- Avoid labelling people and do not mention a person’s disability or impairment
unless it is relevant, particularly in internal communications and emails. Their
impairment is not relevant: the relevant fact is that the person has the required
skills. Always use this kind of positive and empowering language.
- On the other hand, disability should not be made invisible either. Always ensure that
disability is duly included in your conversations and work.
3. DO NOT USE CONDESCENDING EUPHEMISMS
- This reflect the misguided idea that disability needs to be softened.
- Considered patronizing and offensive.
- A denial of reality and a way to avoid talking about disabilities.
- Avoid: “differently abled”, “people of all abilities”, “disAbility”, “special”, or “people of
determination”
4. DISABILITY IS NOT AN ILLNESS OR A PROBLEM
- The medical model of disability views disability as a health condition that needs to be fixed or
cured. Under this model, persons with disabilities are not seen as rights holders.
- The charity model of disability views disability as a burden or a “problem” that persons without
disabilities must solve. This approach depicts persons with disabilities as being objects of
charity and pity, perpetuating negative attitudes and stereotypes.
- Persons with disabilities should not be referred to as patients unless they are under medical
care, and only in that context.
- Avoid labelling persons with disabilities by their diagnoses. (for example, “dyslexic”)
- Avoid: “suffers from”, “afflicted with” or “stricken with”
- They suggest constant pain and powerlessness and carry the assumption that persons
with disabilities have poor quality of life.
- The term “victim” should not be used unless strictly relevant.
- “a victim of cerebral palsy”
- A victim is a person who has been harmed by a crime or has been subject to a human
rights violation. Victims are often seen as vulnerable and helpless.
5. USE PROPER LANGUAGE IN ORAL AND INFORMAL SPEECH
- Most persons with disabilities are comfortable with the words used in daily life.
- Misused terminology can also be inappropriate and hurtful.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities
Recommended language Language to be avoided
-person with disability -disabled person, handicapped, person with
-person with [type of impairment] special needs, handicapable, atypical,
-persons with disabilities person
-people with disabilities (only in Easy Read -living with a disability, differently abled,
documents, informal text and oral speech) people of all abilities, people of
determination, person
living with a disability
-person without disability normal, healthy, able-bodied, typical, whole,
-the rest of the population of sound body/mind
have [disability/impairment/condition] suffer from, afflicted by, stricken by,
troubled with
-person with an intellectual disability retarded, simple, slow, afflicted, brain
-person with an intellectual impairment damaged, intellectually challenged,
subnormal,
of unsound mind, feeble-minded, mentally
handicapped
person with a psychosocial disability insane, crazy, maniac, psycho,
hypersensitive,
lunatic, demented, panicked, agitated,
mentally
deranged, mentally ill
-deaf person the deaf, hearing impaired, deaf and dumb,
-person who is deaf deaf and mute
-person with a hearing disability
-person with a hearing impairment
-person with hearing loss
-hard-of-hearing person
-deafblind person
-blind person the blind, partially-sighted
-person who is blind
-person with a vision/visual disability
-person with a vision/visual impairment
-person with low vision
-deafblind person
-person with a physical disability crippled, invalid, deformed, lame,
-person with a physical impairment handicapped,
physically challenged, person with physical
limitations, limp
-wheelchair user confined/restricted to a wheelchair
-person who uses a wheelchair wheelchair-bound
-person with a mobility disability
-person with a mobility impairment
-person using a mobility device
-person of short stature midget, dwarf, stunted
-little person
-person with achondroplasia (only if the
person has this condition)
-person with Down syndrome mongoloid, special person, Down
-person with trisomy-21
-person with albinism albino
person affected by leprosy leper, leprosy patient
-person who uses a communication device non-verbal, can’t talk
-person who uses an alternative method of
communication
-accessible parking disabled/handicapped parking
-parking reserved for persons with handicapped bathroom
disabilities
-accessible bathroom
“We must be treated as equals – and communication
is the way we can bring this about.”
– Louis Braille
