Disability Awareness > Information about Disabilities
Information About Disabilities
The following are some suggestions for communication that can make both you and a student with disabilities more comfortable:
- A person with a disability is first and foremost a human being with many unique qualities, only one of which may be an impairment that is handicapping in particular settings.
- Second, avoid references, phrases, and words that suggest restrictions, limitations, or boundaries because these phrases tend to carry stereotypes and contribute to discriminating attitudes. Even if a person with disabilities refers to him or herself in particular ways, using phrases like "confined to a wheelchair" reflect poor judgment on the part of the speaker or writer. If you feel awkward in how to refer to a person with disabilities, your best bet may be to ask the person.