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| title | collection | path | parentDocument | outlineId | createdBy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avoiding Ableist Language | Community Policies | Community Policies/Avoiding Ableist Language | null | 76747555-761e-4215-bd31-2f39061f5345 | Jennie R.F. |
Baby Ghosts strives to provide a space free from linguistic, physical, environmental, and social barriers.
We ask that everyone part of this community, but especially workshop leaders and speakers at our events, be:
- Intentional in their speech
- Aware of the words they use and the effect they may have on others
- Humble (not defensive) when corrected or questioned
It can be difficult at first to change language habits, but we are a community that values a genuine intent to include and affirm all experiences and bodies. If you realize you've said something you wish you hadn't, correct yourself and move on. You'll be afforded patience and also remind others about our commitment to eliminating ableism in our space.
The following words and phrases are often used pejoratively to oppress, other, or marginalize disabled people. Many of these words, common in casual speech, are derived from descriptions of disability. Do your best to be aware of your use of these terms, and change the language you use to avoid unintentionally hurting someone.
Understanding Disability Models
Much ableist language stems from the medical model of disability, which treats disability as a problem belonging to the individual. The social model recognizes that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their conditions. For example, a wheelchair user who can't enter a building isn't limited by the wheelchair -- they're limited by the stairs. This distinction matters in game development too: when we design games that exclude certain players, the barrier is in the design, not in the player.
Keeping the social model in mind helps us think critically about the language we use and the assumptions behind it.
Common Ableist Terms and Alternatives
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| Crazy, insane | Unbelievable, surprising, intense, wild |
| Lame | Boring, unimpressive, weak |
| Blind to ___ | Unaware of, ignoring |
| Deaf to ___ | Ignoring, dismissing |
| Dumb | Uninformed, thoughtless |
| Crippled | Broken, impaired, damaged |
| Stupid, idiotic, moronic | Uninformed, misguided, thoughtless |
| Suffers from ___ | Lives with, has, is living with |
| Spaz | Clumsy, scattered, frantic |
| Nuts, wacko, psycho | Unreasonable, absurd, out of line |
Additional terms to avoid
- Daft
- Derp
- Handicap(ped)
- Imbecile
- Loony/loony bin
- Lunatic
- Madhouse/madman
- Maniac
- Mental (used pejoratively)
- Slow (used pejoratively)
- Psychopath/psychotic
- anything -tard
Watch for overcorrection
Terms like "differently abled," "disAbled," "handi-capable," and "special needs" may feel progressive, but many disability rights activists find them patronizing or euphemistic. When in doubt, "disabled" is the term preferred by most activists and advocacy organizations.
Affirming Language
The following terms are widely used and affirmed by disability communities:
- Disabled -- straightforward and preferred by most disability rights activists
- Neurodivergent -- refers to people whose brain functions differ from what is considered typical (includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others)
- On the autism spectrum / autistic -- many autistic people prefer identity-first language ("autistic person") over person-first ("person with autism"), though preferences vary
- Deaf (capitalized) -- refers to the cultural and linguistic community
- Hard of hearing
- Chronically ill
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, rather, a reference to get you thinking about casual ableism and how we might be unintentionally harming those around us.
On Reclamation
Some of these terms have been reclaimed by disability communities. Words like Crip and Mad are used by activists as acts of resistance and self-identification. This shifts the power dynamics of the language. However, reclamation belongs to the people affected -- these terms should only be used by those who claim them for themselves. If you aren't sure how someone identifies or which terms they use, ask. Our community should reflect people's choices in how they talk about themselves.
Resources
- If you'd like to learn more, we recommend Lydia Brown's excellent Violence in Language: Circling Back to Linguistic Ableism. The words in this glossary are excerpted from their post Ableism/Language.
- A Progressive's Style Guide, Hanna Thomas (SumOfUs.org) and Anna Hirsch (ActivistEditor.com), 2016