Disability Rights Center of New Hampshire

Disability Language Guide

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Disability Language Guide

There are two main ways to write about disability: person-first and identity-first.  DRC-NH uses person-first language as a default and that is reflected in this language guide.  However, when possible, we ask individuals with whom we are working or writing about, which format they prefer.

Example:

  • Person-first: “A person with a disability”
  • Identity-first: “A disabled person” 

The following list depicts phrases and terms that are generally considered appropriate, as well as terms and phrases to avoid. Please keep in mind that language is constantly evolving and not everyone has the same preference, so the best guideline when referring to people is to ASK. 

Download our Disability Language Guide Here

First page of language guide which is a table with two columns. The column on the left has preferred terms and the column on the right has terms to avoid.

About DRCNH

Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers for people with disabilities across New Hampshire. DRC is the federally designated protection and advocacy agency for New Hampshire and has authority under federal law to conduct investigations in cases of probable abuse or neglect.

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