NCDJ Recommendation: The term non-disabled and the phrases does not have a disability or is not living with a disability are more neutral choices. Some of the more common genetic conditions include cystic fibrosis, Huntingtons disease, and sickle cell anemia. The World Federation of the Deaf has taken the stance that hearing impaired is no longer an acceptable term. AP style: Schizophrenia is classified as a mental illness. This may be due to improper development, damage or disease to any part of the hearing mechanism. Deaf and hard of hearing are the terms recommended by the World Federation of the Deaf and The National Association of the Deaf. See also Insane/insanity/mentally deranged/psychopathology. This condition also has been called long haul and people with it, long haulers.. Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead to repetitive and often ritualized behaviors or compulsions. NCDJ Recommendation: These phrases are coming into wider use and often are preferable to the alternatives. It is the most common neural tube defect in the U.S. AP Style: The style book suggests a content warning at the top of stories when the subject matter may be considered offensive or disturbing, but the story does not contain quoted profanity, obscenities or vulgarities. NCDJ Recommendation: Terms such as battle and survivor are still widely accepted and understood, but the user should be aware that they could offend some people. If a medical diagnosis is not available, use quotes around the term and indicate that a diagnosis has not been confirmed. The pandemic altered the way many people think about disability, as people who had never encountered such obstacles were suddenly unable to leave their houses. For example, the terms failed attempt or successful or completed attempt depict suicide as a goal, project or solution. NCDJ Recommendation: Both terms are acceptable, although many people prefer people-first language, stating that someone is a person with an intellectual disability rather than referring to the person as intellectually disabled. Seizures can happen after a stroke, a closed head injury, an infection such as meningitis or another illness. Brain damage. Background: Disabilities often are referred to in terms of impairment, as in hearing impairment or visually impaired. Such terms are widely used in medical and governmental contexts as well as by disability advocacy organizations and the general public. Its symptoms include muscle weakness and paralysis. Earwax buildup (cerumen) can occlude sound from passing through to the middle ear. Certain communities, such as the Muscular Dystrophy community and the Spinal Muscular Atrophy community, have embraced the term, but others argue that interabled relationships are relationships just like any other and should not be marked as different. Archaeologist Elisa Perego coined the term long COVID to refer to people with lasting symptoms. Background: Bipolar disorder is a mental illness believed to be caused by a combination of genetic factors and neurological functioning, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. AP style: Not specifically addressed, but the style book refers to mental health professional in an entry on mental illness. Another note this time about the language around COVID-19. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency. Euthanasia should not be used to describe medically assisted suicide or physician-assisted suicide. The AP also suggests using resources from www.reportingonsuicide.org. Rapid speech that is difficult to understand. Many experts classify autism as a developmental disability. The disorder was originally named for French neurologist Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette, who first described the condition in 1885, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment recommends using people-first language when referring to alcoholism, such as someone with alcoholism or someone with an alcohol addiction., NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone who harmfully uses alcohol as a person with alcoholism rather than an alcoholic, which tends to identify someone solely by their disease. Manifestations may include stuttering, articulation errors or an inability to move the tongue (commonly referred to as tongue-tied). Examples of developmental disabilities include autism spectrum disorder, spina bifida, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. The language around COVID-19 is evolving. MD is acceptable on second reference. Then numbers were assigned to words not just mentally retarded, but also terms like imbecile, idiot and moron.. If a medical diagnosis is not available, use quotes around the term and indicate that a diagnosis has not been confirmed. Neurological Disorders. People may refer to themselves as limb different or as being part of a limb different community or as having an upper or lower body limb difference. Special thanks to Rebecca Monteleone, University of Toledo; Jon Henner, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Sherri Collins, Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; journalist Sara Luterman; Cronkite student Haley Tenore; the NCDJ advisory board and graduate assistants; and all the style guide readers who offered suggestions for this guide. Severe implies judgement; significant might be better. Use attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder on first reference; ADHD is acceptable on second reference. Adults are also diagnosed with ADHD. Ask people how they want to be described. In most cases, this entails placing the reference to the disability after the reference to a person, as in a person with a disability, or a person living with a disability, rather than the disabled person.. A signer is a person who may be able to communicate conversationally with deaf persons but who may not necessarily possess the skills and expertise to accurately interpret complex dialogue or information, according to the . However, this term is not widely used. Its chief symptoms include difficulties with spelling, reading, pronunciation of words and processing auditory information. For example, emotional intelligence also is important when considering a persons overall intelligence, according to the American Psychological Association. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid describing people as gifted or twice exceptional unless they have been identified as such by a professional. 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. Its considered offensive. It is important to note that augmentative and alternative communication a general term used to refer to alternative methods that allow for written and spoken expression is considered very different from facilitated communication. See entry on Dissociative identity disorder/multiple personality disorder. If possible, ask the person which is preferable. In the case of a leg injury, explain instead that an injury resulted in difficulty walking. Background: According to the National Association for Gifted Children, giftedness is characterized by the capacity to perform above the level of ones peers. Historically it was called mongoloidism, and people with it were called Mongoloids; this is now considered offensive. Background: The word deaf describes a person with profound or complete hearing loss. Avoid using psychotic as an adjective to describe a person; instead refer to a person as having a psychotic condition or experiencing a psychosis. Avoid using the terms colloquially. When interviewing someone who is non-verbal, be flexible. Background: Stuttering is a a neurobiological condition that is characterized by interruptions in speech. Journalists should consider other ways of describing a persons ability to function in society. AP style:The style book defers to the National Association of the Deaf, stating: Hearing-impaired was a well-meaning term that is not accepted or used by many deaf and hard of hearing people.. Background: Service animals are trained animals, usually dogs, that provide services to people with disabilities. WebInclude plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in their diet. The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders consolidates all autism disorders under the larger autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. The terms are considered derogatory because they equate symptoms of illness to filth. NCDJ Recommendation: The term may not be understood by all, so an explanation may be required. These foods have important vitamins and help keep the lining of the throat healthy. AP style: Not addressed except to state that homebound and housebound are one word with no hyphens. In some cases, the word typical can be used to describe a non-disabled condition, although be aware that some in the disability community object to its use. 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. WebHearing-impaired This term is no longer accepted by most in the community but was at one time preferred, largely because it was viewed as politically correct. To become an interpreter, an individual must not only display bilingual and bicultural proficiency but also have the ability to mediate meanings across languages and cultures, both simultaneously and consecutively. The BBC and The Conversation both have well-considered takes on it. NCDJ Recommendation: Ask the disabled person or disability organizational spokesperson about their preferred terminology. AP style: The style book urges avoidance of the term special education and suggests trying to be specific about the needs or services in question. AA members do not pay dues or fees; rather, it is supported through contributions. There is debate about when someone with a chronic illness is considered to have a disability. People with psychosis are described as psychotic. For example, the National Center on Deaf-Blindness retains the hyphen. Finally, it cautions against using mental health terms to describe non-health issues. Thus, deafness may be viewed as a condition that prevents an individual from receiving sound in all or most of its forms. However, organizations such as the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the Mayo Clinic and the National Stuttering Association generally use the term stuttering to refer to the speech disorder. People with these conditions often are referred to as quadriplegics and paraplegics, but these terms are considered offensive by some. The guide was developed by the National Center on Disability and Journalism at Arizona State Universitys Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and was last updated in the summer of 2021. Disability advocate Anthony Pulrang defines ableism in this way in an article for Forbes: Any statement or behavior directed at a disabled person that denigrates or assumes a lesser status for the person because of their disability. Background: Catatonia is a state in which a person does not move and does not respond to others. NCDJ Recommendation: Neurodiversity can be used as a way of describing someone on the autism spectrum, but because its a relatively new term, consider offering the definition when you use it, particularly in work meant for a mainstream audience. Ask individuals how they prefer to be described. AP style: The style book suggests using the term survivor with care because it can be imprecise, among other reasons. AP style: The style book states that congenital disorder is acceptable and recommends being specific about the condition. But it should not be used when referring to a specific person or to a group of people with a specific condition. Otherwise, paraphrase and use a more acceptable term. Many illnesses, such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis, are life-long conditions. Healthyplace.com has a good discussion of the differences. NCDJ Recommendation: Blind may be used for people who have complete or almost complete loss of sight. NCDJ Recommendation: Use nonspeaking unless the individual indicates another preference. It is acceptable to refer to someone as deaf or hard of hearing. Although many in the general public associate disability with people using wheelchairs or white canes or who are missing limbs, more people have conditions that cant be seen but are defined as disabilities under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Use interpreter only for those who have completed advanced training. AP style: Not addressed, although AP does not use the abbreviation MD. AP style: Disabled is described as a general term for a physical, mental, developmental or intellectual disability. 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. People with disabilities spoke out on social media about this, and long haulers now understand firsthand what some people with disabilities experience. Many people in the Deaf community prefer the use of a lowercase d to refer to audiological status and the use of a capital D when referring to the culture and community of Deaf people. NCDJ Recommendation:Avoid using invalid to describe a person with a disability except in a direct quote. Specify the type of condition if it is known. 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. Causes of hearing loss include: Damage to the inner ear. Background: A chronic illness is defined by the National Health Council as a health condition lasting three months or longer and includes conditions such as cancer or heart disease. Background: Paraplegia is defined as the loss of movement in the lower extremities and torso. AP style: Addressed in entry for Trauma, suggesting that traumatic brain injury is an acceptable use of the word trauma., Background: A caregiver is an individual who provides direct care to people with disabilities and others, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Consider using people-first language, as in a person with an intellectual disability rather than an intellectually disabled person. As always, ask the person which terms they prefer. 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