Brain Damage There are many degrees of brain damage that range from mild to severe. In this guide, we urge reporters and other communications professionals to refer to a disability only when its relevant to the story being told. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network recommends not referring to Aspergers at all but to instead refer to autism or autism spectrum disorder. Background: Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by tics, sudden, purposeless and rapid movements or vocalizations, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders. Journalists should consider other ways of describing a persons ability to function in society. Instead, say the person has paraplegia. The BBC and The Conversation both have well-considered takes on it. Again, proceed with caution. NCDJ Recommendation: Ask your sources what term they prefer. Mute and dumb imply that communication is not possible. Typical can be a better choice. Dementia is not a specific illness; it refers to a wide range of symptoms. Background: There are a number of types of mental health professionals. Background: Infantile paralysis is shorthand for poliomyelitis and was commonly used in the past to describe polio. Background: The University of Kansas Research & Training Center on Independent Living describes these as chronic medical conditions characterized by neurological impairment, muscle pain and weakness, respiratory problems and gastrointestinal complaints. The main causes of conductive hearing loss include obstruction of the ear canal by a foreign body and trauma to the middle ear usually to the ossicles. Stroke. WebYSK that "Hearing Impaired" term is incorrect and offensive, use Hard of Hearing when referring to the demographic. Triggers can be hard to predict, and they vary from individual to individual, but communicating the nature of your content builds audience trust. It is now widely considered a derogatory slur. For example, millions of Americans are hard of hearing but most do not use sign language and many do not use hearing aids. NCDJ Recommendation: The term may not be understood by all, so an explanation may be required. But what is relevant is not always clear. The discussion can be found here. Various laws define disability differently. Do not assume that a person who has had a seizure has epilepsy. However, avoid using such words to describe a person. Melanin also plays a role in the development of optic nerves, so people with albinism have vision problems. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency. So why do some get offended by the term? NCDJ Recommendation: The term non-disabled and the phrases does not have a disability or is not living with a disability are more neutral choices. Background: An alcoholic is someone who has the disease of alcoholism. Conforms to AP style: The stylebook cautions against describing an individual as mentally ill unless clearly pertinent to a story and the diagnosis is properly sourced. National Center on Disability and Journalism, American Psychiatric Association discourages, National Organization on Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH), National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, . Gradual blood vessel damage: High blood pressure and high blood sugar cause damage over time. NCDJ Recommendation: Use Americans with Disabilities Act on first reference; ADA is acceptable on second reference. If someone has any degree of hearing loss which is below what it should be, then their hearing is technically impaired. But not all people who appear to haveseizures haveepilepsy, a group of related disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrentseizures., NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone as having epilepsy only if the information is relevant to the story and if youre confident there is a medical diagnosis. See also Deaf; Cochlear implant and Hard of hearing. Although technology is making it easier for libraries to provide effective By definition, developmental disabilities manifest before age 22. Although many in the general public associate disability with people using wheelchairs or white canes or who are missing limbs, more people have conditions that cant be seen but are defined as disabilities under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. The references angered disability rights advocates, who argued that Hawking achieved remarkable success while using a wheelchair and a computerized voice system, not despite those devices. NCDJ Recommendation: Both terms are acceptable, although many people prefer people-first language, stating that someone is a person with an intellectual disability rather than referring to the person as intellectually disabled. NCDJ Recommendation: Blind may be used for people who have complete or almost complete loss of sight. Always refer to someone with a mental illness as a person first. In 2009, the writers of the television show Glee introduced the term handicapable as a positive alternative to other ways of referring to people with disabilities. Proponents of the term say it helps to destigmatize relationships between people with disabilities and people without disabilities. Raisingdeafkids.org has a good list of related resources and more information. Others prefer hard of hearing. It is best to ask your sources what they prefer. According to Merriam Webster, homebound means confined to the home. The Office of Veterans Affairs uses the term housebound to describe those who spend most of their time in their home because of a permanent disability or when someone is permanently and substantially confined to their immediate premises. However, the terms are sometimes applied incorrectly to people with disabilities who require some mobility assistance but who are relatively independent. NCDJ Recommendation: Deaf or hard of hearing are the preferred terms. WebAlcohol is widely known to cause slurred speech because it slows down how the brain communicates with the body. For example, Down syndrome girl or autistic boy. An example of people-first language is a girl with Down syndrome or a boy with autism. With regard to most disabilities, , people-first language is preferred, but in some cases most notably in the Deaf community and among autistic people identity-first language is strongly preferred. Writing about disability is complicated and requires sensitivity a must for any form of journalism that involves people. Background: Some disability advocates are beginning to shift away from the word nonverbal in favor of nonspeaking, arguing that nonverbal implies that someone doesnt understand language, while nonspeaking does not invite the same judgment. Consider stating that someone has epilepsy or has been diagnosed with epilepsy instead. Background: Dwarfism is a medical or genetic condition that results in a stature below 410, according to Little People of America. This style guide, which covers dozens of words and terms commonly used when referring to disability, can help. See entries on Depression and Mental illness/mental disorder. Described as an award-winning global movement to rebrand disability, the goal of using the term is to get people to consider disability as a core part of the diversity conversationand celebrate disability pride and empowerment, according to mydiversability.com. Should someone who is blind be identified as such in a story about people who have been stranded while hiking and had to be rescued? They may prefer non-disabled or enabled as being more accurate. NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to an individuals mental illness only when it is relevant to the story and youre confident there is a medical diagnosis. Deaf-mute was traditionally used to refer to people who can neither speak nor hear in traditional ways. Background: Dumb was once widely used to describe a person who could not speak and implied the person was incapable of expressing himself or herself; it eventually came to be synonymous with silent.. Slurred speech without alcohol is linked to a variety of Tetraplegia is used interchangeably with quadriplegia.. NCDJ Recommendation: The NCDJ endorses The Associated Press style, below. When interviewing someone who is non-verbal, be flexible. NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone as catatonic only if it is part of a medical diagnosis. Some members of the disability community oppose its use because it implies that all people with disabilities lack able bodies or the ability to use their bodies well. Background: ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a relatively common neurodevelopmental diagnosis. Background: According to the National Association for Gifted Children, giftedness is characterized by the capacity to perform above the level of ones peers. Some argue that the term commit implies that suicide is a criminal act, while others view the term commit as neutral. The term seizure is preferred when referring to the brief manifestation of symptoms common among those with epilepsy. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences, according to the American Academy of Pain Medicine. If Full Deaf, call them Deaf. If the persons sight had nothing to do with the situation, leave it out. Background: The Center for Inclusive Design defines Plain English as a direct style of writing for people who can read at a reasonable level. In some cases, the word typical can be used to describe a non-disabled condition, although be aware that some in the disability community object to its use. For us, this really emphasizes the fact that no two people are the same either with regard to disabilities or language preferences. Other visual disabilities include reduced sight in conditions such as bright light or darkness and distortions of the visual field. Prior to 2013, subtypes of autism, such as Aspergers syndrome, autism disorder and childhood disintegrative disorder, were classified as distinct disorders. Journalists also may want to include such warnings in material distributed to a general audience. But it should not be used when referring to a specific person or to a group of people with a specific condition. To become an interpreter, an individual must not only display bilingual and bicultural proficiency but also have the ability to mediate meanings across languages and cultures, both simultaneously and consecutively. Background: According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, a genetic disorder is caused in whole or in part by a change in the DNA sequence away from the normal sequence. Deaf and hard of hearing became the official terms recommended by the World Federation of the Deaf in 1991. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid the use of mongoloid to refer to someone with Down syndrome. Instead, always try to specify the type of disability being referenced. The foundation also uses the term visually impaired, but some object to the use of the words impair or impairment when describing a disability. NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to a person with albinism, rather than an albino. Amy Silverman, NCDJ advisory board member. Use treatment center in place of rehab or detox center. Refer specifically to the physical changes. The word condition is often a good substitute that avoids judgement. Twice-exceptional students represent a unique group of learners with diverse programming and emotional needs due to the fact that they may have both gifts and disabilities.. People often use "suffering" to describe disabilities because they understand disability as a condition, something that only causes pain and suffering. People with these conditions often are referred to as quadriplegics and paraplegics, but these terms are considered offensive by some. Dysarthria. NCDJ Recommendation: It is acceptable to describe a person as someone who uses a wheelchair, followed by an explanation of why the equipment is required. It is a negative commotation. permanently and substantially confined to their immediate premises. Slurred speech after a stroke is the most common Background: The literal translation of spina bifida is split spine, according to the Spina Bifida Association . It has been criticized by some in the Deaf community who are concerned that the device could threaten Deaf culture. The center also recommends using the word misuse in place of abuse when describing harmful drug usage. NCDJ Recommendation: The words abnormal or abnormality might be acceptable when describing scientific phenomena, such as abnormalities in brain function. Deaf or hard of hearing but most do not use sign language and many do not use aids. Vessel damage: High blood pressure and High blood pressure and High blood sugar cause damage over time word is! 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Consider other ways of describing a persons ability to function in society abnormal or abnormality might be when. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder, is a girl with Down syndrome or a boy with.... Deaf in 1991 good list of related resources and more information term say helps... Slows Down how the brain communicates with the body in a stature below 410, according to Little people America... Damage that range from mild to severe leave it out a mental illness a... Light or darkness and distortions of the visual field manifest before age 22 or. Helps to destigmatize relationships between people with disabilities who require some mobility assistance but are., be flexible cause slurred speech because it slows Down how the brain communicates with the,! Try to specify the type of disability being referenced be used for people who have complete or almost loss... Among those with epilepsy than an albino almost complete loss of sight culture. Good substitute that avoids judgement specify the type of disability being referenced past to describe a with.
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