The language of disability is always evolving and different terms are used within and outside of Australia. It can be political, it can be personal, and it can be quite confusing. Here are a few tips to help you on your way.
Important things to remember:
AAV’s supports self-determination and respects how Deaf and Disabled people choose to label and define disability in their own way.
AAV uses the term ‘Deaf and Disabled people’, in line with the Social Model of Disability.
We use this definition as an act of pride and solidarity, and as a link to disability cultural identity, experience and community.
We use it to include anyone with a lived experience of disability, whether that’s visible or invisible, sensory or physical, neurodiverse, cognitive, intellectual or developmental, or of mental health or illness. We respect the right of the Deaf community to label their experience as one of cultural and linguistic difference.
| Words we recommend | Words we don’t recommend |
|---|---|
| Deaf and Disabled people/person | The disabled People/person with a disability People/person with disabilities Differently abled / diffabilty Handicapped Invalid Physically challenged Special needs |
| Non-disabled people/person | People/person without disability Able-bodied Normal |
| Wheelchair user | Wheelchair bound Bound/confined to a wheelchair |
| Blind Vision impaired Low vision |
The Blind Visually impaired Person without sight |
| Deaf people/person Auslan user Hard of hearing |
The Deaf Deaf and dumb Deaf and mute Hearing impaired |
| Learning disabled Learning disability Intellectual disability |
Retard/ed Slow learner |
| Person of short stature | Midget Dwarf |
| Mental health issues | Mental health problems Mental Mental illness Mentally-ill |
| Accessible toilet | Disabled toilet |
| Accessible parking | Disabled parking |
| Has With a lived experience of |
Suffers from Afflicted with Victim of |
| Do you have any access requirements? | Do you have a disability? |
| Inclusive (except where ‘inclusive’ is used to mean ‘disability-only’) | All-abilities Integrated |
| Support worker Personal Assistant |
Carer Companion |
| First Peoples/ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people | Indigenous |
| They/them He/she (where someone has told us their pronouns) Non-gender specific terms (waiter, actor, etc |
He/she (where someone hasn’t told us their pronouns) Gender specific terms (waitress, actress, etc) |
