Person first language emphasizes the person before the disability, for example “person who is blind” or “people with spinal cord injuries.” Identity first language puts the disability first in the description, e.g., “disabled” or “autistic." Person first or identify first language is equally appropriate depending on personal preference. When in doubt, ask the person which they prefer.
It is important to note that while person first language is often used in more formal writing, many people with disabilities, particularly younger people, are choosing to use identity first language. How a person chooses to self-identify is up to them, and they should not be corrected or admonished if they choose not to use person first language.
Below are just a few examples of the appropriate use of people-first language.
| Affirmative Phrases |
Negative Phrases |
| Person with an intellectual, cognitive, developmental disability |
Retarded, Mentally defective |
| Person who is blind, Person who is visually impaired |
The blind |
| Person with a disability |
The disabled, Handicapped |
| Person who is deaf |
The deaf, Deaf and dumb |
| Person who is hard of hearing |
Suffers a hearing loss |
| Person who has multiple sclerosis |
Afflicted by MS |
| Person with cerebral palsy |
CP victim |
| Person with epilepsy, Person with a seizure disorder |
Epileptic |
| Person who uses a wheelchair |
Wheelchair bound, Confined to a wheelchair |
| Person who has muscular dystrophy |
Stricken by MD |
| Person with a physical disability |
Crippled, Lame, Deformed |
| Person who is unable to speak, Person who uses synthetic speech |
Dumb, Mute |
| Person with a psychiatric disability |
Crazy, Nuts |
| Person who is successful, productive |
Has overcome his/her disability, Is courageous (when it implies the person has courage because of having a disability) |
| Person who is in recovery from a substance abuse disorder |
Addict |
