List of disability-related terms with negative connotations
The following is a list of terms used to describe disabilities or people with disabilities that may be used by someone unaware that the term is often considered negative and/or offensive by people with or without disabilities. Generally it is best to use person first language, e.g. a person with a disability rather than a disabled person. There is some disagreement as to what should be considered offensive. Views vary with geography and culture, over time, and among individuals. Many terms that some people view as offensive are not viewed as offensive by others, and even where some people are offended by certain terms, others may be offended by the replacement of such terms with what they consider to be euphemisms. Some people believe that terms should be avoided if they might offend people; others hold the listener responsible for misinterpreting terms used with non-offensive intent. For some terms, the grammar structure of their use determine if they are offensive. The people first stance advocates for saying "people with disabilities" instead of "the disabled" or "a person who is deaf" instead of "a deaf person". However, some advocate against this, saying it reflects a medical model of disability whereas "disabled person" is more appropriate and reflects the social model of disability. On the other hand, there is also a grammar structure called identity-first language that construes disability as a function of social and political experiences occurring within a world designed largely for nondisabled people.
A
Able-bodied, there is an implied value judgement comparing a person with a disability verses one without
"The Disabled" or "Disabled people" are offensive to most, use "person with a disability" or "people with health conditions or impairments" instead, although some people prefer disabled person/disabled people due to the social model of disability
Dotard
Dumb, especially when preceded by "the".
Dwarf
E
Epileptic, especially when referring to an individual
Handicapped, especially when preceded by "the" or "physically".
Hare lip
Hysterical, typically used in reference to women.
I
Imbecile was the diagnostic term for people with IQ scores between 30–50 in the early 1900s. It is no longer used professionally. Before to the IQ test was developed in 1905, "imbecile" was also commonly used as a casual insult towards anyone perceived as incompetent at doing something.
*
Idiot was the diagnostic term used for people with IQ scores under 30 when the IQ test was first developed in the early 1900s. It is also no longer used professionally. Before the IQ test was developed in 1905, "idiot" was also commonly used as a casual insult towards anyone perceived as incompetent at doing something.
Inmate, use patient or client instead
Insane
Inspirational or inspiring, when used about somebody doing a very ordinary activity. Based on pity.
Invalid
J
Junkie, use person with a drug problem or person with a substance use disorder instead
L
Lame. A reference to difficulty walking or moving. The term has since been adopted into urban slang to generally refer to something or someone as "meaningless" or "without worth", e.g. "He told us a lame excuse for why he had not done the work."
*
Lunatic or looney
M
Mad, madman
Maniac
Mental or mentally deficient, mental case, defective, disabled, deranged, or ill
Midget
Mong, Mongol, Mongoloid, or Mongolism for Down syndrome.
Moron, moronic
Mutant, referring to someone with an uncommon genetic mutation
N
Narc, narcissist this does not mean the same as abuser
Psychopath, which is an old term that used to mean a person with a mental illness, name the behavior of the person instead
R
Retard/Retarded although before circa the 1990s this was considered acceptable by most non-disabled people and organizations. Also known as the r-word.
S
Schizo especially as an adjective, meaning "erratic" or "unpredictable" or, for the former two, to refer to an individual.
Schizophrenic, when referring to an individual
Senile
Sociopath, name the person's behavior instead
Spastic/Spaz/Spakka
Sufferer, use person with..." instead, negative and disempowering terms should be avoided
"Yuppie flu" used as a pejorative term for chronic fatigue syndrome. This originated from the media stereotype of people with CFS as ambitious, young, and affluent, and not have a genuine illness, neither of which is an accurate portrayal.
