7

Quick
W H AT
guide to
inclusive TO
S AY

language
It’s important to use
inclusive language because
language is influential.

References
AllPlay Learn, Language Guide (online document).
People With Disability Australia. (2019). ‘What do I say?
A guide to language about disability’.
 Quick guide to inclusive language
OK WHY?
When
you’re referring Avoid Consider Because …
to a person ... saying ... saying ...
negative language to
child or young describe disability can
with any type of afflicted by,
person with be disempowering and
developmental crippled by,
a disability or inaccurate. Not all people
delay or suffers from,
developmental view their disability as a
disability victim of
delay negative experience.

child or young
with any type of special needs, euphemisms might feel
person with
developmental differently kind but can create
developmental
delay or abled, specially additional stigma.
delay or
disability abled
disability

this frames diverse function

child or as a strength, highlights the
wheelchair young person empowering role of assistive
with a physical technologies or supports,
bound, who uses a
disability and encourages others to
can’t walk wheelchair
for mobility consider a child or young
person’s abilities.

child or young
person with
with a learning slow, slow is negative,
developmental
disability slow learner derogatory and inaccurate.
delay or a
learning disability

who does this avoids implying that

not have child or young students with disability are
normal, abled, not normal. It shows that
developmental person without
able-bodied disability is an aspect of
delay or disability
disability human diversity.

The best approach to inclusive language is to always ask the child, young person or
family their preferred language.

With delivery partners Funded by

Be You Disability Inclusion Guide beyou.edu.au