Disability etiquette

People often worry about saying the wrong thing when talking to disabled people. However, it's important to remember that a patronising, thoughtless or rude manner is far more offensive than actual language used. If you are unsure about how to say something, ask the disabled person what they prefer. Remember, respectful language about disability and disabled people should always be used regardless of whether a disabled person is present.

What should I say? A few basic rules:

• Never describe people by their impairments eg 'an epileptic', or 'a diabetic'.
• Do not use collective nouns such as 'the disabled' or 'the blind'.
• People without a disability should be described as 'non-disabled' rather than 'able bodied' as people with learning difficulties or mental health problems may consider themselves as disabled.
• Don't be embarrassed about using common expressions such as 'see you later' in front of someone who has a visual impairment or 'you'll hear from me soon' to someone who is deaf or hard of hearing.

For more information on how to communicate with disabled people, view our Disability Communication Guide.