XXXXXXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXXXXXX, and XXXXXXXXXXXX (XXXX) Resources
Head of Research and Instruction Services
Key Terms
XXXXXXX - This can refer to either individual or institutional actions and language that disadvantage or disempower people with XXXXXXXXXXXXX, people experiencing XXXXXXXXXXXX, or XXXXXXXX people. XXXXXXX includes mental, physical, and emotional XXXXXXXXXXXX.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX - A proactive solution to providing equal access for all, pursuing XXXXXXXXXXXXX means starting the design process with XXXXXXXXXXXX in mind. Provided by following an easy to implement set of standards and practices that make "adaptation" unnecessary. One can benefit from XXXXXXXXXXXXX without announcing or explaining their XXXXXXXXXXXX.
Accommodation - Adaptations that can't be anticipated or standardized. They are different for each individual. Although we should expect there to be a general willingness to accommodate us wherever we go, we can't expect actual, specific accommodations unless and until we ask for them. Accommodations are reactive solutions to address special cases.
Americans with XXXXXXXXXXXX Act (AXA) - Legislation that prohibits XXXXXXXXXXXXXX against people with XXXXXXXXXXXX in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government’ programs and services.
Assistive technology (AT) - Any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with XXXXXXXXXXX.
XXXXXXXXX - A mental, emotional, or physical difference that limits a person in everyday activities. Increasingly, XXXXXXXXXX is being discussed as a social construct, meaning that the mental, emotional, and physical norms from which we then determine what is different or what is a XXXXXXXXXX are arbitrary.
Examples of XXX-Free Language
The following table illustrates are examples of XXXX-free language for different types of XXXXXXXXXXXX. Both problematic and preferred examples are presented.
|
XXXXXXXXXX |
Problematic |
Preferred |
|
Blind or Visually Impairment |
Dumb, Invalid |
Blind/Visually Impaired, Person who is blind/visually impaired |
|
Deaf or Hearing Impairment |
Invalid, Deaf-and-Dumb, Deaf-Mute |
Deaf or Hard-of-hearing, Person who is deaf or hard of hearing |
|
Speech/Communication XXXXXXXXXX |
Dumb, “One who talks bad" |
Person with a speech / communication XXXXXXXXXX |
|
Learning XXXXXXXXXX |
Retarded, Slow, BrainDamaged, “Special ed” |
Learning XXXXXXXXXXX, Cognitive XXXXXXXXXX, Person with a learning or cognitive XXXXXXXXXX |
|
XXXXXX-XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX |
Hyper-sensitive, Psycho, Crazy, Insane, Wacko, Nuts |
Person with a psychiatric XXXXXXXXXX, Person with a XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX |
|
Mobility/Physical XXXXXXXXXXX |
Handicapped, Physically Challenged, “Special,” Deformed, Cripple, Gimp, Spastic, Spaz, Wheelchairbound, Lame |
Wheelchair user, Physically XXXXXXXXX, Person with a mobility or physical XXXXXXXXXXX |
|
Emotional XXXXXXXXX |
Emotionally disturbed |
Emotionally XXXXXXXX, Person with an emotional XXXXXXXXXX |
|
Cognitive XXXXXXXXXX |
Retard, Mentally retarded, “Special ed” |
Cognitively/Developmentally XXXXXXXX, Person with a cognitive/developmental XXXXXXXXXX |
|
Height |
Dwarf, Midget |
Someone of short stature, Little Person |
|
Health Conditions |
Victim, Someone “stricken with” a disease (i.e. “someone stricken with cancer” or “an AIDS XXXXXX”) |
Survivor, Someone “living with” a specific disease (i.e. “someone living with cancer or AIDS”) |
____
"Americans with XXXXXXXXXXX Act (ADA)," United States Department of Justice---Civil Rights Division. https://www.ada.gov/
"XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXX & XXXXXXXXXX Vocabulary," The Avarna Group.
"Respectful XXXXXXXXXX Language," National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) and Kids As Self-Advocates (KASA), Association of University Centers on XXXXXXXXXX. https://www.aucd.org/docs/add/sa_summits/Language%20Doc.pdf.
"What is AT?," Assistive Technology Industry Association. https://www.atia.org/home/at-resources/what-is-at/