combination of your inner ear and the nerves in your ear. Triggers can be hard to predict, and they vary from individual to individual, but communicating the nature of your content builds audience trust. In 2010, President Barack Obama signed a measure known as Rosas Law that replaced the term mental retardation with intellectual disability in many areas of government, including federal law. Thats OK. You may end up using a derogatory term in a direct quote, but be certain that its fundamental to the story. The technique was originally developed to help those with significant developmental disabilities, such as some forms of autism and cerebral palsy. Others prefer it to disabled because dis means not, which means that disabled means not able. But particularly when it comes to referring to individuals, differently abled is problematic. Able-bodied is an appropriate term to use in some cases, such as when referring to government reports on the proportion of able-bodied members in the workforce. Background: Autism spectrum disorder is a group of complex disorders related to brain development, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. WebAs you can see, even mild hearing loss can affect the sounds of speech, making it difficult to understand words with consonant sounds. Similarly, ask whether the person prefers identity-first or people-first language. NCDJ Recommendation: Consider using speech disability instead of impediment, disorder or impairment.. The medical profession favors use of the terms mental disorder or psychopathology. In U.S. criminal law, insanity is a legal question, not a medical one. It is widely viewed as legitimate and important. At times, words that are considered outdated may be appropriate because of the storys historical context. This is increasingly tricky turf. NCDJ Recommendation: The proper term for the disorder is Down syndrome, not Downs syndrome or Downs Syndrome. People with these conditions often are referred to as quadriplegics and paraplegics, but these terms are considered offensive by some. A minimally conscious state is one in which a patient has some awareness of self and/or the environment. NCDJ Recommendation: Do not use the term retarded or other iterations. Epilepsy manifests differently in individuals: The severity of epileptic seizures, their occurrence rates and the emergence of other health problems differ from person to person. Background: The term interabled is used by some in the disability community to refer to couples in which one person has a disability and the other does not. She experiences symptoms of psychosis is preferable to She is psychotic. He has a bipolar disorder is preferable to He is bipolar.. AP style: Schizophrenia is classified as a mental illness. A person enrolled in a treatment center should be referred to as a patient. Many people with chronic illnesses do not consider themselves disabled and thus may be offended by the term. Thus, deafness may be viewed as a condition that prevents an individual from receiving sound in all or most of its forms. Aging and exposure to loud noise may cause wear and tear on the hairs or nerve cells in the Background: Indicates a person who has some loss of both vision and hearing. There are four types of spina bifida. There is debate over how relevant IQ tests should be in making a diagnosis. Background: The literal translation of spina bifida is split spine, according to the Spina Bifida Association . They may include: Slurred speech. 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. Uneven or abnormal speech rhythm. The language around COVID-19 is evolving. Referring to someone who does not have a disability as a normal person implies that people with disabilities are deviant or strange. 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.. Sometimes people with quadriplegia refer to themselves as quads. In these cases, use in quotes. For more information on mental illness, see the National Institute for Mental Health. Background: Merriam-Webster defines the noun cripple as a lame or partly disabled person or animal and as something flawed or imperfect. It also is used as a verb. Many people in North America who are deaf or hard of hearing use it as a primary means of communication. It is important to note that some autism advocates do not like this term; it tends to be embraced by self advocates, but not as frequently by families of people with autism who also have intellectual disabilities and other challenges. It is often used informally to describe someone who is in a stupor-like condition. This condition also has been called long haul and people with it, long haulers.. However, advocates support the device for suitable candidates. Other symptoms include memory loss, emotional issues, disorientation and the development of other mental disorders. Instead, define it as an electronic device that can assist a person who is deaf or hard of hearing in understanding speech. AA is unaffiliated with any outside organizations or institutions and does not endorse, finance or oppose any causes. However, the word deformity has a negative connotation when used in reference to those with disabilities. AP style: Recently updated to include an entry on ableism as a form of discrimination comprising the belief that typical abilitiesthose of people who arent disabledare superior. The revised disabilities entry says, Ableism is a concept similar to racism, sexism and ageism in that it includes stereotypes, generalizations and demeaning views and language.. Background:American Sign Language is a complete language that utilizes signs made by moving the hands combined with facial expressions and postures of the body, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. When renowned scientist Stephen Hawking died in 2018, media accounts referred to him as finally free of the wheelchair he used for decades. Epilepsy is most commonly treated with medication but treatment also can include use of medical devices, surgery, diet and emerging therapy methods. It is not caused by problems in the muscles or nerves but by differences in parts of the brain that control muscle movement. Chronic illnesses such as Parkinsons disease, diabetes, lupus or Crohns disease may fall into the category of invisible disabilities. Psychologist: A mental health professional trained in the discipline of psychology and who often does psychological testing and research. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid using hearing impaired or hearing impairment. For those with total hearing loss or who identity as a member of the Deaf community, deaf is acceptable. Its best to avoid using clean and dirty with regard to drug test results, according to the Center for Substance Abuse and Treatment. Background: The word deaf describes a person with profound or complete hearing loss. However, it is such a general term that it fails to accurately describe a persons condition and is now widely viewed as offensive in that it implies that a person lacks abilities. However, some people still strongly support the method. People with disabilities spoke out on social media about this, and long haulers now understand firsthand what some people with disabilities experience. Even with the caveat that this does not apply to all, we have heard from many people with disabilities who take issue with that advice. Complications from spina bifida range from minor physical problems to significant intellectual and physical disabilities. The American Psychiatric Association discourages using derogatory language such as the term junkie to refer to someone who misuses drugs. In addition to their cognitive component, many types of dementia include physical symptoms, such as the abnormal eye movements of Huntingtons disease or the tremors associated with Parkinsons disease. OCD may present as a fear of contamination, disarray or intrusion, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, academics eventually found there was little scientific evidence that the technique worked, leading many to conclude the aide was actually the one communicating, according to a study from Emory University. NCDJ Recommendation: Do not use the term freak to describe a person with a disability as it is derogatory. Although technology is making it easier for libraries to provide effective 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. NCDJ Recommendation: Specify American Sign Language on first reference, capitalizing all three words. However, AP advises against the latter formulation. It is now widely considered a derogatory slur. In the second case, the answer is maybe. If the hikers blindness contributed to him or her getting stranded, making note of that fact is relevant. The word special in relationship to those with disabilities is now widely considered offensive because it euphemistically stigmatizes that which is different. The center also recommends using the word misuse in place of abuse when describing harmful drug usage. Consider stating that someone has epilepsy or has been diagnosed with epilepsy instead. (The proper terminology in the United Kingdom is Downs syndrome). For example, the terms failed attempt or successful or completed attempt depict suicide as a goal, project or solution. Ask your sources how they want to be described. Euthanasia should not be used to describe medically assisted suicide or physician-assisted suicide. The AP also suggests using resources from www.reportingonsuicide.org. For example, the National Center on Deaf-Blindness retains the hyphen. 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