Language Guidelines
Words matter. Words can open doors to enable persons with disabilities to lead fuller, more independent lives. Words can also create barriers or stereotypes that are not only demeaning to persons with disabilities, but also rob them of their individuality. The following language guidelines have been developed by experts for cognitive disabilities for use by anyone writing or speaking about persons with disabilities to ensure that all people are portrayed with individuality and dignity.
Appropriate Terminology
- Refer to participants in Special Olympics as Special Olympics athletes rather
than Special Olympians or Special Olympic athletes.
- Refer to individuals, persons or people with cognitive disabilities, rather than
disabled people or the mentally retarded.
- A person has a cognitive disability, rather than is suffering from, is afflicted
with or is a victim of disabilities.
- Distinguish between adults and children with cognitive disabilities. Use adults
or children, or older or younger athletes.
- A person uses a wheelchair, rather than is confined or restricted to a wheelchair.
- "Down syndrome" has replaced Down’s Syndrome and mongoloid.
- Refer to participants in Special Olympics as athletes. In no case should the word
athletes appear in quotation marks.
- When writing, refer to persons with a disability in the same style as persons
without a disability: full name on first reference and last name on subsequent references.
Do not refer to an individual with mental retardation as "Bill" rather
than the journalistically correct "Bill Smith" or "Smith."
- A person is disabled rather than crippled.
- Use the words "Special Olympics" when referring to the worldwide Special Olympics movement.
Terminology to Avoid
- Do not use the label "kids" when referring to Special Olympics athletes.
Adult athletes are an integral part of the movement.
- Do not use the word "the" in front of Special Olympics unless describing
a specific Special Olympics event or official.
- Do not use the adjective "unfortunate" when talking about persons with
mental retardation. Disabling conditions do not have to be life-defining in a negative
way.
- Do not sensationalize the accomplishments of persons with disabilities. While
these accomplishments should be recognized and applauded, people in the disability
rights movement have tried to make the public aware of the negative impact of referring
to the achievements of physically or mentally challenged people with excessive hyperbole.
- Use the word "special" with extreme care when talking about persons with cognitive disabilities. The term, if used excessively in references to Special Olympics athletes and activities, can become a cliché.
Use the words "Special Olympics Wisconsin" when referring to the Wisconsin Chapter of Special Olympics. "SOWI" may be used on second reference.