Disability Sensitivity Guide
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in every 3 adults in Louisiana has a disability. A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).
There are many types of disabilities, such as those that affect a person’s:
- Vision
- Movement
- Thinking
- Remembering
- Learning
- Communicating
- Hearing
- Mental health
- Social relationships
Although “people with disabilities” sometimes refers to a single population, this is actually a diverse group of people with a wide range of needs. Two people with the same type of disability can be affected in very different ways. Some disabilities may be hidden or not easy to see.
According to the World Health Organization, disability has three dimensions:
- Impairment in a person’s body structure or function, or mental functioning; examples of impairments include loss of a limb, loss of vision or memory loss.
- Activity limitation, such as difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, or problem solving.
- Participation restrictions in normal daily activities, such as working, engaging in social and recreational activities, and obtaining health care and preventive services.
Nicholls State University is committed to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities, which means including them in every day activities and encouraging them to have roles similar to their peers who do not have a disability. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 are two federal laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and encouraging their inclusion in many areas.
One of the easiest ways to create an inclusive environment, that is most often overlooked, is the use of effective communication. Disability is part of the human experience, but sometimes people use words or phrases that are insensitive and do not promote the understanding, dignified and respectful atmosphere we aim to achieve here at Nicholls State. More often than not, this is not intentional, but can be hurtful just the same. Learn how to communicate with and about people with disabilities using people-first language and other helpful tips.
| Tips | Use | Do not use |
| Emphasize abilities, not limitations | · Person who uses a wheelchair
· Person who uses a device to speak |
· Confined or restricted to a wheelchair, or wheelchair bound
· Can’t talk, mute |
| Do not use language that suggests the lack of something | · Person with a disability
· Person of short stature · Person with cerebral palsy · Person with epilepsy or seizure disorder · Person with multiple sclerosis |
· Disabled, handicapped
· Midget · Cerebral palsy victim · Epileptic · Afflicted by multiple sclerosis |
| Emphasize the need for accessibility, not the disability | · Accessible parking or bathroom | · Handicapped parking or bathroom |
| Do not use offensive language | · Person with a physical disability
· Person with an intellectual, cognitive, developmental disability · Person with and emotional or behavioral disability, a mental health impairment, or a psychiatric disability |
· Crippled, lame, deformed, invalid, spastic
· Slow, simple, moronic, defective, afflicted, special person · Insane, crazy, psycho, maniac, nuts |
| Avoid language that implies negative stereotypes | · Person without a disability | · Normal person, healthy person |
| Do not portray people with disabilities as inspirational only because of their disability | · Person who is successful, productive | · Has overcome his/her disability, is courageous |