Do not refer to people who are blind as “T e Blind” (like
they’re a block of wood). Just say the person is blind or has a vision issue. Use “deaf” or “hard of hearing” instead of “hearing-
impaired.” A lot of people who are hard of hearing do not like the word “impaired.” You should say that
someone has a learning disability or dyslexia, not that he or she is slow or dimwitted. Saying that a person is slow or dimwitted just mocks those chal- lenges. Never say someone or something is “retarded,” even if joking. You cannot see every
disability; there is a whole category of disabilities called invisible disabili- ties (also called hidden disabilities). While they are serious, many can be overcome successfully. For example, prosopagnosia, or face blindness, is a condi- tion where people cannot recognize other people by their faces. Dr. Oliver Sacks, who was portrayed by Robin Williams in the movie Awakenings, is someone who has this condition (meaning he is unable to recognize his patients by looking at their faces). He has an entire career of doing path-breaking work. Imagine if he, or someone who supervised his work, used that disability to mock, exclude or limit him. Underdogs can come out ahead by compensating for
their perceived weaknesses, oftentimes through creative and innovative thinking. Similarly, people with disabilities must
often be creative and innovative to accomplish the same things as those who do not have disabilities (although in a manner that does not look the same). We all can use many of these strategies to maximize our own performance. Parents of children seem
to prefer the term “special needs.” Again, you should always be respectful, and use the terminology the person (in this case, the parent) prefers. Choosing the words
we use to discuss disabilities carefully allows us to make the most of opportunities and talents. We should always use respectful language, but recognize that the aff ected person is a bet- ter guide on his or her own preferences. While it can be diffi cult
at fi rst, respectful language quickly becomes a habit and can shape the way everybody sees people with disabilities (and the way people with disabilities see themselves). Being respect-
ful is not only important on its own, but it can also develop a pool of talent and opportunity for everybody. D&B
Jason Goitia serves on the board of the National Association of Attorneys with Disabilities. He is a former ABA Business Law Section Diplomat, has a Hispanic background and works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Goitia has multiple sclerosis. He can be contacted at
jason.goitia@gmail.com.
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