It is acceptable to describe a person as “someone who uses a wheelchair,” followed by an explanation of why the equipment is required. Avoid “confined to a wheelchair” or “wheelchair-bound” as these t [..]

It is preferable to use precise medical terminology or, if that is not possible, terms such as comatose or non-responsive. If using the term vegetative state, use people-first language, such as “a per [..]

Treatment is an acceptable term for medical interventions, and treatment center is acceptable for the establishment in which such practices take place. Use treatment center in place of rehab or detox [..]

Use Tourette syndrome, with no possessive or capitalization of syndrome. Refer to someone as having Tourette syndrome only if the information is relevant* to the story and if the person has been forma [..]

 Use people-first language, such as “a person with tetraplegia” rather than tetraplegic, since this implies that the condition defines them. See also quadriplegia.

The word stuttering is preferred over stammering. Do not refer to an individual as a stutterer. Rather, use people-first language, such as “a person who stutters.” Refer to stuttering only if it is re [..]

It is acceptable to describe a person as “someone with spina bifida” or “someone living with spina bifida,” followed by a short explanation of what their condition entails.

Avoid using these terms when describing a person living with a disability or the programs designed to serve them, with the exception of government references or formal names of organizations and progr [..]

Service animal, assistance animal and guide dog all are acceptable. Avoid use of Seeing Eye dog as Seeing Eye is a registered trademark of The Seeing Eye school in Morristown, N.J. Be aware that the i [..]

Refer to someone as having schizophrenia only if the information is relevant* to the story and if the person has been formally diagnosed by a licensed medical professional. Use people-first language, [..]

Use people-first language, such as “a person with quadriplegia” or “a person living with quadriplegia” rather than quadriplegic, since this implies that the condition defines them. Sometimes people wi [..]

Use the words psychotic and psychosis only when they accurately describe a medical experience. Avoid using psychotic to describe a person; instead refer to a person as having a psychotic condition or [..]

Refer to someone as having PTSD only if the information is relevant* to the story and the person has been formally diagnosed by a reputable source. Post-traumatic stress disorder is correct on first r [..]

 Ask the person with a disability or disability organizational spokesperson their preferred terminology.

Ask the individual what term he or she prefers. Otherwise, hard of hearing is almost always acceptable.

Avoid referring to an individual as a paraplegic. Instead, say the person has paraplegia. Sometimes people with paraplegia refer to themselves as a “para.” If so, use in quotes.

Refer to someone as having OCD only if the information is relevant* to the story and the person has been formally diagnosed by a reputable source. Do not use OCD as an adjective for someone who obsess [..]

Non-disabled or “does not have a disability” are acceptable terms when referring to people who do not identify as having a disability. In general, avoid using able-bodied.

It is acceptable to describe a person as “someone with muscular dystrophy” or “someone living with muscular dystrophy,” followed by a short explanation of what the condition entails. Avoid saying a pe [..]

It is acceptable to describe a person as “someone with multiple sclerosis” or “living with multiple sclerosis,” followed by a short explanation of how the disease is manifested in that person. Avoid s [..]

Always avoid the use of Mongoloid to refer to someone living with Down syndrome. See the entry for Down syndrome.

Always try to specify the type of disability being referenced. Otherwise, the terms mental disability, intellectual disability and developmental disability are acceptable. Use people-first language. F [..]

Ask the professional how he or should be identified, based on his or her formal training. Avoid using the word shrink in reference a mental health professional except in a quote.

Refer to an individual’s mental illness only when it is relevant* to the story and the diagnosis comes from a proper source. Whenever possible, specify the specific illness a person has rather than me [..]

Avoid using invalid to describe a person living with a disability except when quoting someone.

Avoid using lame to describe a person living with a disability except when quoting someone.

Use people-first language, stating that someone is “a person with an intellectual disability” or “a person living with an intellectual disability” rather than referring to the person as intellectually [..]

Mental health hospital or psychiatric hospital are the preferred terms to describe medical facilities specifically devoted to treating people with mental disabilities.

Use mental illness or mental disorder instead of insane or mentally deranged, except in a quote or when referring to a criminal defense.

Use the term polio rather than infantile paralysis. It is preferable to say “He had polio as a child” or “She contracted polio as an adult” rather than “He suffers from polio” or “He is a victim of po [..]

For those with total hearing loss, deaf is acceptable. For others, partial hearing loss or partially deaf is preferred. It is best to ask the person which term he or she prefers.

Do not describe a person as handicapped unless it is central to the story. Avoid using handicap and handicapped when describing a person. Instead, refer to the person’s specific condition. The terms a [..]

Refer to someone as having epilepsy only if the information is relevant* to the story and if the person has been formally diagnosed by a licensed medical professional. Use people-first language, stati [..]

Refer to someone as having dyslexia only if the information is relevant* to the story and if the person has been formally diagnosed by a licensed medical professional. Use people-first language, stati [..]

Only refer to a person’s short stature if it is relevant* to the story. It is best to ask people which term they prefer to describe them. Avoid the term dwarf unless it is being used in a quote or in [..]

The proper term for the disorder is Down syndrome, not Down’s syndrome or Down’s Syndrome. Use people-first language, stating that someone “is a person with Down syndrome,” “has Down syndrome,” or “is [..]

Refer to someone as having dissociative identity disorder only if the information is relevant* to the story and if the person has been formally diagnosed by a licensed medical professional. Use the te [..]

Ask the disabled person or disability organizational spokesperson about their preferred terminology.

While it is acceptable to use the term developmental disabilities, it is preferable to use the name of the specific disability whenever possible.

When describing an individual, do not reference his or her disability unless it is clearly pertinent to the story. If it is pertinent, it is best to use language that refers to the person first and th [..]

Refer to someone as having depression only if the information is relevant* to the story and if the person has been formally diagnosed by a licensed medical professional. Specify the type of disorder i [..]

Refer to someone as having dementia only if the information is relevant* to the story and a licensed medical professional has formally diagnosed the person. Use people-first language when describing s [..]

Avoid using deformed as an adjective to describe a person. Deformity can be used in some contexts, such as a deformed limb, although it’s preferable to describe the specific disability or cause.

Avoid using defect or defective when describing a disability. Instead, state the nature of the disability or injury.

Avoid these terms as they are often used inaccurately and can be offensive.

Use the terms the person prefers.

Lowercase when referring to a hearing-loss condition or to a deaf person who prefers lowercase. Capitalize for those who identify as members of the Deaf community or when they capitalize Deaf when des [..]

Avoid these words when reporting on mental illness unless they are part of a quote that is essential to the story. Also see entry for “Insane/mentally deranged.”

It is preferable to state that someone is “a person with a congenital disability,” “a person living with a congenital disability,” “has had a disability since birth,” or “was born with a disability.” [..]

When referring to a cochlear implant, avoid describing it as a corrective device or one that would restore a deaf person to mainstream society. Instead, define it as an electronic device that can assi [..]

It is acceptable to describe a person as “someone with cerebral palsy” or “someone living with cerebral palsy,” followed by a short explanation of what the condition entails. When describing specific [..]

Refer to someone as catatonic only if it is part of a medical diagnosis. Avoid using it casually as it may be offensive and inaccurate.

Caregiver is preferable to caretaker when referring to the care of people.

Use the term blind only when the person has complete loss of sight and the term legally blind when the person has almost complete loss of sight. Other terms also may be acceptable. It is best to ask t [..]

Refer to someone as having bipolar disorder only if the information is central to the story and a licensed medical professional has formally diagnosed the person. Do not use bipolar as an adjective fo [..]

Refer to someone as having autistic spectrum disorder only if the information is relevant* to the story and if a licensed medical professional has formally diagnosed the person. Ask individuals how th [..]

Refer to someone as having attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder only if the information is relevant* to the story and if a licensed medical professional has formally [..]

Refer to someone as having Asperger’s syndrome only if the information is relevant* to the story and if a licensed medical professional has formally diagnosed the person. If the individual has receive [..]

Specify American Sign Language on first reference, capitalizing all three words. ASL is acceptable on second reference. Use “interpreter” only for those who have completed advanced training. The Regis [..]

Use Americans with Disabilities Act on first reference; ADA is acceptable on second reference.

The proper term is Alzheimer’s disease, never Alzheimer’s. Disclose that an individual has Alzheimer’s disease only if it is relevant* to the story and if the person has been formally diagnosed by a l [..]

Because anonymity is central to the organization, disclose that someone as a member of Alcoholics Anonymous only if it is essential to the story. When covering AA, consider referring to members by the [..]

Refer to someone who harmfully uses alcohol as “someone with an alcohol problem,” “someone living with an alcohol problem,” or “someone with alcoholism.” Use recovering to refer to someone with the di [..]

It is preferable to use neutral language when describing a person who has a disability, simply stating the facts about the nature of the disability. For example: “He has muscular dystrophy” or “he is [..]

The words abnormal or abnormality are acceptable when describing scientific phenomena, such as abnormalities in brain function. However, avoid using abnormal to describe a person.

The term non-disabled or the phrase “does not have a disability” or “is not living with disability” are more neutral choices. Able-bodied is an appropriate term to use in some cases, such as governmen [..]