When describing people or behaviors, it is constructive to use specific language in a sensitive manner. Avoiding generic or punitive impersonal terms that imply judgment and blame. Download PDF of Worksheet here.
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Language That Carries the Burden of Stigma |
Language that Promotes Acceptance and Respect |
Comments |
| Jon is mentally ill. Jon is bipolar.Jon is schizophrenic. |
Jon has a mental illness. Jon has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder/schizophrenia. |
Put the person first.Avoid defining a person by their diagnosis. |
| Amanda is an addict. | Amanda is addicted to alcohol. Amanda is in recovery from drug addiction |
Put the person first. Avoid defining a person by their diagnosis. |
| Sarah is brain damaged. | Sarah has a brain injury. | Avoid defining a person by their diagnosis. |
| Jane is disabled. | Jane is a person with a disability. | Put the person first. Avoid defining a person by their diagnosis. |
| Stan is manipulative. | Stan works very hard to get his needs met. | Remove blame from the statement. |
| Linda is normal. Linda is healthy. |
Linda is someone without a disability. Linda is typical. |
Referring to people without disabilities as normal or healthy suggests that people with disabilities are not normal and not healthy. |
| Chris is defiant. Chris is non-compliant. |
Chris chooses not to… Chris would rather… |
Unique descriptions of an individual are more useful than generalizations. |
| Tyler is mentally retarded. | Tyler has cognitive disabilities. Tyler is cognitively impaired. |
Put the person first. Use respectful language. |
| Mark is learning disabled. | Mark has a learning disability. Mark has been diagnosed with learning impairments. |
Put the person first. Use respectful language. |
| Allie suffers from autism. Allie is autistic. |
Allie has a diagnosis of autism. Allie has autism. |
Avoid defining the person by their diagnosis. |
| Bob is in special education. Bob needs special education. |
Bob receives supportive services. Bob receives special education services. |
Put the person first. Avoid defining the person by their diagnosis. |
| Karen loses it. Karen is dangerous. |
Karen may talk or yell loudly to herself when she is upset. Karen flails her arms violently around her when she hears voices. |
Unique descriptions of an individual are more useful than generalizations. Use respectful language. |
| Sandra is mentally ill and uses drugs. | Sandra is a person with co-occurring mental health and substance use/abuse issues. | Put the person first. Avoid defining the person by their diagnoses. |
| Henry is downer. Henry is lazy.Henry is always depressed. |
Henry has experienced depression for many years. Henry is challenged to get motivated. |
Unique descriptions of an individual are more useful than generalizations. Use respectful language. |
| Arthur is hyper. Arthur is manic. |
Arthur has a lot of energy right now. Arthur hasn’t slept in 3 days. |
Unique descriptions of an individual are more useful than generalizations. |
| Quinn is paranoid. | Quinn is experiencing a lot of fear. Quinn is worried that her neighbors want to hurt her. |
Unique descriptions of an individual are more useful than generalizations. |
| Mara is a cutter. | Mara expresses emotional pain through self-harm. Mara hurts herself when she is upset. |
Avoid defining the person by the behavior. Recognize the reason behind the behavior. |