Disability and Language Style Guide for History@Work and The

Last updated January 27, 2022; Revised December 14, 2023

Disability and Language Style Guide for

History@Work and The Public Historian

Introduction

Using words related to disability thoughtfully is a tool for

accessibility, inclusion, and allyship in editing and writing. This

guide is meant to provide resources on commonly used, disability-

related words or language in public life (and therefore on

History@Work and in The Public Historian). It is not exhaustive

and cannot serve as a definitive guide to style. Language is

constantly changing. And not all writers, historians, advocates, or

activists will agree on what words to use for this topic or others,

though mainstream editorial guides have adopted many of the

principles outlined below. This guide focuses on the language the

compiler encounters most often in the field. It also reflects the

perspective of activists and scholars based primarily in the US.

Scholars of and activists in the Global South have different

perspectives on language not represented here.

Check out the

additional resources linked throughout and at the end of the guide

for more information or deeper reading on the history related to

this style guide. If you use this guide for your own editing, please

let us know whether it has been useful!

There are several critiques and efforts to dismantle the US- and western-

centric approach to disability history, particularly considering a growing

Global South body of literature for which western theories and examples

are inappropriate.

Last updated January 27, 2022; Revised December 14, 2023

Commonly deployed usages to avoid, and what to

use instead

Words or phrases that people commonly use today that should be

avoided on History@Work and in The Public Historian are listed

below.

lame

idiot

retarded

crippled

special (derived from “special education”)

handicap(ped)

mentally challenged

moron

crazy

stupid

Note that disabled people use some words that might sound

outdated (such as “crip”). Therefore, using words like “crip” will

sometimes be appropriate depending on the context.

Words and phrases like those listed above have been used in the

past to exclude and marginalize disabled people, which is one

reason why they are unacceptable today. These words are

typically used as insults. In that case, suggest another way for the

author to write about a person, place, thing, or idea.

When quoting a historical source, the author should contextualize

these words and use them only when necessary.

If the writer is using this terminology to refer to disabled people

because they are simply unaware of more contemporary

Last updated January 27, 2022; Revised December 14, 2023

terminology for disabled people, encourage them to use accepted

terminology from the list below or ask the person they are

referring to about how they self-identify.

disabled people or people with disabilities

physical disability

sensory disability

intellectual disability

developmental disability

learning disability

madness

bodymind

Note that disabled people have claimed or reclaimed the term

“madness” in an empowering way.

There are words or phrases you may need to use that define a

disability more narrowly, but the list above is a good place to start.

See also the “Disability Language Style” guide, published by the

National Center on Disability and Journalism.

Writers should avoid the words or phrases below because they

have been used to refer to disabled people but are used in such a

way that make a person’s disability seem like a burden or bother.

Part of list from: Michael Rembis, Catherine Kudlick, and Kim E. Nielsen,

“Introduction,” in The Oxford Handbook of Disability History, ed. Michael

Rembis, Catherine Kudlick, and Kim E. Nielsen (New York: Oxford

University Press, 2018) 7.

For more on language related to disability, including the term “bodymind,”

see Sami Schalk, “Disability,” in Keywords for Gender and Sexuality

Studies, ed. Keywords Feminist Editorial Collective (New York University

Press), Accessed September 27, 2023,

https://keywords.nyupress.org/gender-and-sexuality-

studies/essay/disability/.

Last updated January 27, 2022; Revised December 14, 2023

Wheelchair-bound; in a wheelchair; confined to a wheelchair

Use instead: wheelchair user or person using a wheelchair

deaf and dumb

Use instead: d(D)eaf or hard of hearing. Note: If someone uses a

way to communicate that is not speaking (“dumb”), note how they

communicate (for example, with American Sign Language or

through writing). Note that not all d(D)eaf people identify as

disabled. Some deaf people prefer lower-case d, others prefer

uppercase D (usually when referring to a formalized Deaf

community.

See below for more on “mute.”

people with challenges or special people

Use instead: Refer to the person’s specific disability if relevant.

handicapable

Use instead: Refer to the person’s disability if relevant.

OCD

Use instead: Describe what is meant instead of using this term in

a derogatory or positive way (usually referring to someone being

detail-oriented). Use only if referring to an actual medical

diagnosis. (See style guide linked below.)

PTSD

See “Deaf,” National Center on Disability Journalism, “Disability

Language Style,” https://ncdj.org/style-guide/, accessed January

25, 2022.

Last updated January 27, 2022; Revised December 14, 2023

Use instead: Describe what is meant instead of using this term in

a derogatory, casual, or ahistorical way. As above, use this term

only when referring to diagnosed PTSD. (See style guide linked

below.)

If possible, ask disabled people how they would like to be referred

to. For example, some disabled people prefer person-first

language (ex: person with a disability); today, many prefer

“disabled person” (this should be your default). If you cannot ask

a person about language, reference the “Disability Language

Style” guide, published by the National Center on Disability and

Journalism for up-to-date usage suggestions.

You should also avoid using disability as a metaphor. These

metaphors are powerful because people have marginalized

disabled people based on their disability and due to ableism.

Examples of common expressions to avoid:

I turned a blind eye to the indiscretion.

The university was deaf to our appeal.

She was struck dumb.

Congress was paralyzed by the impasse.

A snowstorm crippled the entire east coast.

The primary sources were mute on the topic.

Instead, write what you mean. For example, “A snowstorm

resulted in all public transit shutting down on the east coast.”

Last updated January 27, 2022; Revised December 14, 2023

Do not use disability-related words to emphasize a point.

She was crazy busy.

Use instead: She was very busy.

The award they received was a bonkers amount of money.

Use instead: They received a lot of money.

Avoid using disability as a challenge to overcome or as what is

known as “inspiration porn.”

Avoid: They overcame their challenges as disabled students and

were able to get a college degree.

Finally, avoid writing about disability when it’s not relevant. For

example, consider whether mentioning an artist’s disability is

relevant for interpretative goals.

Editing Tactics

There are many ways to suggest writers alter their wording or

phrasing in such a way that points out a language problem but

doesn’t make the writer feel inadequate, guilty, or embarrassed.

Disability history and disability studies are relatively new fields,

and many people aren’t familiar with new language standards.

Always keep the subject of the writing and the readers in mind

when suggesting changes. Here is an example of a way to

suggest a change:

Last updated January 27, 2022; Revised December 14, 2023

Consider using a different word here other than “lame.” Per

History@Work or Public Historian style, we avoid words that have

been used historically to other or marginalize disabled people. Is

there another word or phrase you could use here that gets a

similar point across? How about [insert suggestion here

depending on context]?

If you have questions, feel free to get in touch with

History@Work: [email protected].

Further Reading

There are many things you could read on these topics, but here

are some places to start. Some of the items below informed this

guide. See also linked items above.

KEY RESOURCE: National Center on Disability Journalism,

“Disability Language Style,” https://ncdj.org/style-guide/, accessed

November 2, 2023.

Douglas Baynton, Defectives in the Land: Disability and

Immigration in the Age of Eugenics (Chicago: The University of

Chicago Press, 2016)

Lydia X. Z. Brown, “Ableism/Language,” Autistic Hoya,

https://www.autistichoya.com/p/ableist-words-and-terms-to-

avoid.html, accessed January 14, 2022.

M. Leona Godin, “Helen Keller and the Problem of ‘Inspiration

Porn,’” The New York Times, October 21, 2021,

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/opinion/helen-keller.html.

Last updated January 27, 2022; Revised December 14, 2023 
 
8 
 
“Hawking’s death prompts debate on disability language,” 
National Center on Disability and Journalism, March 19, 2018, 
https://ncdj.org/2018/03/stephen-hawkings-disabilities-prompt-
debate-after-news-of-his-death/.  
 
 
 
Sins Invalid, "10 Principles of Disability Justice,” Accessed 
November 2, 2023, https://www.sinsinvalid.org/blog/10-principles-
of-disability-justice.   
Talila A. Lewis, “Working Definition of Ableism: January 2022 
Update,” Blog, January 1, 2022, 
https://www.talilalewis.com/blog/working-definition-of-ableism-
january-2022-update.    
Mia Mingus, “Changing the Framework: Disability Justice: How 
our communities can move beyond access to wholeness,” 
Leaving Evidence, February 12, 2011, 
https://leavingevidence.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/changing-the-
framework-disability-justice/.  
 
Alexandra Morris, “A Brief Guide to Disability Terminology and 
Theory in Ancient World Studies,” Society for Classical Studies, 
August 30, 2021, https://classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/alexandra-
morris/blog-brief-guide-disability-terminology-and-theory-ancient-
world-studies.  
 
Meg Roberts, “Inspiration Porn and Depictions of Impairment in 
Early America,” Public Disability History, July 1, 2021, 
https://www.public-disabilityhistory.org/2021/06/inspiration-porn-
and-depictions-of.html.  
 

Last updated January 27, 2022; Revised December 14, 2023

Alice Wong, ed., Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the

Century (New York: Vintage, 2020).

Karin Williams, “Before You Call the Candidate Who Stood Up

From His Chair ‘Inspiration,” The Mighty, August 28, 2020,

https://themighty.com/2020/08/madison-cawthorn-standing-

wheelchair-rnc/.

Stella Young, “Objectification porn and the objectification of

disability,” TedxTalks, May 13, 2014,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxrS7-I_sMQ.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the Omohundro Institute’s Disability in Early

America working group, fall 2021, the History@Work Lead

Editors, and The Public Historian editorial staff for providing

comments on a draft version of this document. This was

developed as a guide for editing NCPH publications, but you are

welcome to share with others who may find it useful.

Invitation to Comment

As many people have said, accessibility is a process. If you have

suggestions for adding to or revising this guide, please be in

touch with History@Work: hist[email protected].

First published January 2022.

Revised December 2023.