Acceptable terminology

In general, refer to a person who has a kind of disability, not a disabled person.

If necessary, use the following terms to describe people with disabilities or the disabilities themselves.

Use these terms

Instead of

Blind, has low vision

Sight-impaired, vision impaired

Deaf or hard-of-hearing

Hearing-impaired

Has limited dexterity, has motion disabilities

Crippled, lame

Without disabilities

Normal, able-bodied, healthy

One-handed, people who type with one hand

Single-handed

People with disabilities

The disabled, disabled people, people with handicaps, the handicapped

Cognitive disabilities, developmental disabilities

Slow learner, retarded, mentally handicapped

TTY (to refer to the telecommunication device)

TT/TTD

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