This also is referred to as deaf-blindness or deafblindness. AP Style: The style book suggests avoiding the term and, instead, trying to be specific about the disability. It is a common learning disability among children, although adolescents and adults with dyslexia often exhibit symptoms as well. People-first language is not preferred by all people with disabilities. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid using the terms high functioning and low functioning. Instead, use medical diagnoses and describe an individuals abilities and challenges, rather than using less-specific labels. Social habits, practices, regulations, laws, and institutions that operate under the assumption that disabled people are inherently less capable overall, less valuable in society, and/or should have less personal autonomy than is ordinarily granted to people of the same age.. Because of perceived stigma, some people are calling for an end to the use of the term mental illness, suggesting instead a person diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder or a person with a mental health history. Some advocates suggest using the term mental health experience. However, the term mental illness still is widely used within the medical and psychiatric professions. Genetic disorders can be caused by a mutation in one gene (monogenic disorder), by mutations in multiple genes (multifactorial inheritance disorder), by a combination of gene mutations and environmental factors, or by damage to chromosomes (changes in the number or structure of entire chromosomes, the structures that carry genes).. For more information, consult the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Disability Rights Section. They may include: Slurred speech. Background: The University of Kansas Research & Training Center on Independent Living describes these as chronic medical conditions characterized by neurological impairment, muscle pain and weakness, respiratory problems and gastrointestinal complaints. When interviewing someone who is non-verbal, be flexible. Other symptoms include memory loss, emotional issues, disorientation and the development of other mental disorders. Background: Quadriplegia is defined as the paralysis of all four limbs as well as the torso. These personalities, medically known as alters, can exhibit different speech patterns, mannerisms, attitudes, thoughts, gender identities and even physical characteristics. Whenever possible, specify the specific illness a person has rather than mental illness in general. Additional material: I Dont Have Autism, Im Autistic, Lenny Letter. NCDJ Recommendation: It is acceptable to describe a person as someone with cerebral palsy, followed by a short explanation of what the condition entails. Complications from spina bifida range from minor physical problems to significant intellectual and physical disabilities. This style guide, which covers dozens of words and terms commonly used when referring to disability, can help. There is debate about when someone with a chronic illness is considered to have a disability. However, symptoms vary across the spectrum. NCDJ Recommendation: Hard of hearing is almost always acceptable. Earwax impaction is another culprit. For example: He has muscular dystrophy, and avoiding characterizing those conditions as afflictions. When quoting or paraphrasing a person who has signed their responses, its appropriate on first reference to indicate that the responses were signed. However, its use is relatively rare and not generally accepted. Background: The Oxford English Dictionary defines neurodiversity as the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits, regarded as part of the normal variation in the human population (used especially in the context of autism spectrum disorders). The word was coined in the late 1990s. Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. Examples of developmental disabilities include autism spectrum disorder, spina bifida, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. NCDJ Recommendation: Consider using speech disability instead of impediment, disorder or impairment.. Rapid speech that is difficult to understand. Use quotes when officials or family members use a term such as a history of mental illness to refer to an individual, and when appropriate, indicate that the diagnosis has not been confirmed. If you have two or more seizures or a tendency to have recurrent seizures, you have epilepsy. It is the most common neural tube defect in the U.S. Medically assisted suicide is permitted in some states and countries. Thats OK. You may end up using a derogatory term in a direct quote, but be certain that its fundamental to the story. NCDJ Recommendation: It is acceptable to describe a person as someone with spina bifida, followed by a short explanation of what their condition entails if it is pertinent to the story. In general, there is no hyphen after inter, so interabled is the correct usage (not inter-abled). The terms senility and senile denote conditions brought on by aging and often are used incorrectly to denote dementia. Background: According to the University of Kansas Research & Training Center on Independent Living, disfigurement refers to physical changes caused by burns, trauma, disease or congenital conditions.. It is characterized by new muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain and fatigue., NCDJ Recommendation: Use the term polio rather than infantile paralysis. Many dislike For example, the terms failed attempt or successful or completed attempt depict suicide as a goal, project or solution. Seizure types vary by where and how they begin in the brain. Addiction usually refers to a disease or disorder; dependence may, on the other hand, describe babies born to mothers who use drugs or cancer patients who take prescribed painkillers. We also will include some guidance in individual entries here but again, we encourage you to confirm on a case-by-case basis. Background: Cerebral palsy refers to a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. WebYSK that "Hearing Impaired" term is incorrect and offensive, use Hard of Hearing when referring to the demographic. OCD may present as a fear of contamination, disarray or intrusion, according to the Mayo Clinic. Historically it was called mongoloidism, and people with it were called Mongoloids; this is now considered offensive. Slow speech. By definition, developmental disabilities manifest before age 22. The center also recommends using the word misuse in place of abuse when describing harmful drug usage. In the past, we have encouraged journalists and others to use person-first language (such as, a person who has Down syndrome rather than a Down syndrome person) as a default. Background: Stuttering is a a neurobiological condition that is characterized by interruptions in speech. Background: Prelingually deaf refers to individuals who were born deaf or became deaf prior to learning to understand and speak a language, according to Gallaudet University, a university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing in Washington, D.C. Postlingually deaf or late-deafened describes people who lost their hearing ability after they learned to speak a language. But not all people who appear to haveseizures haveepilepsy, a group of related disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrentseizures., NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone as having epilepsy only if the information is relevant to the story and if youre confident there is a medical diagnosis. AP style: The stylebook states that its acceptable to use the word autism as an umbrella term for a group of developmental disorders. It also says it is acceptable to use the word autism in stories. Psychotherapist: An umbrella term for mental health professionals trained to treat people for their health problems. Disorder is ubiquitous when it comes to medical references; and the same is true for special when used in special education, so there may be times when its appropriate to use them. NCDJ Recommendation: When possible, avoid describing a person or condition as impaired. Alternative language for hearing impairment and visual impairment are offered under those entries. It calls for use of a lower case d in all usages. Background: The terms mentally retarded, retard and mental retardation were once common terms that are now considered outdated and offensive. When referring to a drug test, state that the person tested positive for (drug)., NCDJ Recommendation: Addiction is an acceptable term, although some prefer substance abuse disorder. It is preferable to refer to someone who harmfully uses drugs as someone with a drug addiction rather than an addict. Use recovering or in recovery from to refer to someone trying to overcome an addiction; that is, someone recovering from a methamphetamine addiction.. AP style: The stylebook refers, without comment, to albino, albinos. NCDJ Recommendation: Use augmentative and alternative communication on first reference, explaining what it means. Physical deformities can arise from a number of causes, including genetic mutations, various disorders, amputations and complications in utero or at birth. Electrical sensitivities are triggered by electromagnetic fields from electrical devices and frequencies. More serious causes of dysarthria, or sudden slurred speech, include Background: The Americans with Disabilities Act is federal civil rights legislation that was signed into law in 1990 to address discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, public accommodations, transportation and telecommunications as well as state and local government services. The BBC and The Conversation both have well-considered takes on it. For a long time, it simply meant slow. It is acceptable to refer to someone as deaf or hard of hearing. When renowned scientist Stephen Hawking died in 2018, media accounts referred to him as finally free of the wheelchair he used for decades. Common symptoms across forms of dementia include memory loss, difficulty performing complex tasks, communication difficulties, personality changes and paranoia, according to the To declare Did you know that Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Difficulty with speech, including slurred Such tics are recurrent, involuntary and non-rhythmic. NCDJ Recommendation: If youre an educator, consider alerting students ahead of time if content contains graphic descriptions of traumatic events. Background: The phrased disabled people is an example of identity-first language (in contrast to people-first language). NCDJ Recommendation: Use Plain English or Plain Language but confirm with the source that that is the correct terminology. When covering AA, consider referring to members by their first name only unless official references or context requires otherwise. Background: The two terms often are used interchangeably. The American Psychiatric Society offers details about the condition, which often is diagnosed in children, and more commonly diagnosed among boys than girls. Many people prefer people-first language, such as a person with schizophrenia or a person diagnosed with schizophrenia rather than a schizophrenic or a schizophrenic person. Do not use the word schizophrenic colloquially as a synonym for something inconsistent or contradictory. Mayo Clinic. Background: Members of the disability community argue that characterizing people with a disability as sick or referring to them as patients signals there is something unwell about them or that they are in need of medical attention, when, in fact, that is often not the case. Webwhy is hearing impaired a slur. Individuals with learning disabilities have average or above average intelligence, and the term does not include a learning problem that is primarily the result of another cause, such as intellectual disabilities or lack of educational opportunity., NCDJ Recommendation: Use learning disability when youre confident there is a medical diagnosis. A developmental disability can include a long-term physical or cognitive/intellectual disability or both. AP style: Not specifically addressed, but AP refers to paraplegia in its general disability entry. Physical damage to the brain: Brain damage can affect both structure and function. Background: The Oxford English dictionary defines an invalid as a person made weak or disabled by illness or injury. It is probably the oldest term for someone with physical conditions that are considered seriously limiting. Bipolar disorder used to be referred to as manic depressive illness, but that is no longer the case. AP style: Schizophrenia is classified as a mental illness. Do not say the person had a fit or had an epileptic fit.. As language, perceptions and social mores change rapidly, it is becoming increasingly difficult for journalists and other communicators to figure out how to refer to people with disabilities. Little People of America has a statement on the M word., The terms little people and little person refer to people of short stature and have come into common use since the founding of the Little People of America organization in 1957. For example, a person may be able to describe having low central or peripheral vision. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid using defect or defective when describing a disability. Reactions for those with chemical sensitivities are triggered by low-level exposure to everyday substances and products, including pesticides, solvents, cleaning agents, new carpeting and adhesives, and fragrances and scented products. Do not use OCD as an adjective for someone who obsesses over certain things but has not been formally diagnosed with the disorder. AAC may be used on second reference. Plain English looks and sounds like standard forms of writing. Another version, Easy English, aims at a lower reading level with short sentences often accompanied by pictures. Background: Hospitals that cared for people with various mental illnesses, often for long periods of time, were once commonly referred to as insane asylums. Do not use bipolar as an adjective for something other than a medical condition as for example, when referring to something that rapidly or drastically changes. The term seizure is preferred when referring to the brief manifestation of symptoms common among those with epilepsy. NCDJ Recommendation: Use Tourette syndrome with no possessive or capitalization of syndrome. 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