Inclusive Language Resources

5 Words To Never Use When Discussing Students With Disabilities (Plus What To Say Instead) | WeAreTeachers -  The specific words we choose to use carry meaning and connotations based on their etymology, the history of those words, and our current cultural and political contexts. Our students will also learn the words we use and repeat them at school, at home, and in the community. Thus, it is critical to examine the words we use and the impact they can have on others, specifically kids with disabilities. 

Creating Anti-Ableist and Stigma-Free Classrooms - GIVE Guide - Understanding ableism and stigma and their impact on both individuals and learning environments empowers you to be a compassionate educator who preserves and protects the dignity and lived experience of students with disabilities. 

Examples of Ableist Language You May Not Realize You’re Using- Ableist language isn’t always used to be dismissive or degrading. It comes in many forms, including some so familiar that you may have never stopped to think about their origins or implications. 

Disability-Inclusive Communications Guidelines | United Nations  - The purpose of the Guidelines is to assist in making communications disability-inclusive and accessible. Inclusive and accessible communications reduce bias and discrimination and promote inclusion and participation. 

A Discussion on Language | NHCDD - Examine how the language we use when talking about disability affects the way we see ourselves and each other. Learn how the systemic use of ableist language has cultivated exclusionary policies and how the evolution of language can help us break down barriers to inclusion and foster a sense of dignity for people with disabilities. 

Guidelines for Writing About People With Disabilities | ADA National Network - Words are powerful. The words you use and the way you portray individuals with disabilities matters. This factsheet provides guidelines for portraying individuals with disabilities in a respectful and balanced way by using language that is accurate, neutral and objective.

Inclusive Language Guide | APA -The guide is written to raise awareness, direct learning, and support the use of culturally sensitive terms and phrases that center the voices and perspectives of those who have been historically marginalized or stereotyped. The guide also explains the origins of problematic terms and phrases and offers suitable, more contemporary alternatives

Inclusive Language Guide | GIVE -Words matter. Consider how you speak to and about individuals regarding all aspects of their identities. Insensitive or outdated word choices can reinforce stereotypes. The goal of this guide is to provide you with tools to be inclusive and respectful in your language by putting the whole person at the center of your word choice.

Inclusive Language Guide | WGU - Useful guide for using common terminology when we speak about different groups

Respectful Interactions: Disability Language and Etiquette | ADANW -This guidance sheet offers tips and advice from people who have disabilities to help put everyone at ease. Because no two people with disabilities are exactly alike, it is best to ask the person and follow the person's lead when it comes to what works best for them. 

Words Matter! Disability Language Etiquette | NEA- Language matters. Word choices can either create inclusive or exclusionary environments, create or disrupt barriers to inclusion, uplift or demean differences, or sustain or disperse stereotypes about persons with disabilities. This is especially important in education, where all students need to be safe and respected in order to flourish academically and socially. 

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