What does it mean to be disability inclusive?
Ahead of International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) on 3 December, we wanted to highlight some of the ways we can all improve how we talk about disability.
But first, what is a disability?
‘Disability’ is a bit of a catch-all term! When we use ‘disability’, we might be referring to:
- impairments or medical conditions in the individual
- functional limitations or boundaries
- environmental or societal barriers
- thinking and processing differences
- lifelong or temporary conditions.
A ‘disability’ might be physical, mental, developmental, neurological, intellectual, brain-based, or sensory. ‘Disability’ might be visible to other people (meaning that other people can see the disability) or hidden (meaning that the disability might not be outwardly apparent). The impacts of a disability might vary day-by-day (this is a ‘dynamic disability’) or be much the same every day (‘static disability’).
Our words make our world more inclusive
How people experience disability varies. Almost one in six Australians have a disability.It’s likely that you’ll know, study with, work with, live with, or love someone with a disability. You might even have a disability yourself.
Our words have a lot of power. When we use inclusive and respectful language to talk about disability, we help create a more inclusive environment – where everyone is included and, as a result, can thrive.
How to improve talking about disability
1. See strengths, not deficits: Strengths-based language focuses on what people can do, not what they can’t. For example: instead of ‘Sam can’t take meeting minutes because of his disability’, recognise Sam’s strengths: ‘Sam can take the minutes using JAWS.’
2. Approach conversations with positive intention: We might feel nervous or scared when talking about disability. When talking about disability, approach conversations with a positive intention. Think of the conversation as a chance to learn. Ask yourself, how can I speak clearly to help other people understand what I’m saying?
3. Not diff-abled, handy-abled or determined: When we substitute made-up words for ‘disability’ (like ‘diff-abled’), we’re implying that ‘disability’ is a bad word or shameful. In Australia, ‘people with disability’ is normally used – but if talking to someone with a disability, it’s good practice to just ask how they would prefer you to refer to (or not refer to) their disability.
4. Ask – don’t interrogate: Ask questions respectfully. If someone tells you they have a disability, it’s okay to ask: ‘How can I support you?’ or ‘What would you like me to know about your disability so I can best support you?’ Avoid invasive and disrespectful questions like, ‘What is your disability?’ or ‘What’s wrong with you?’
5. Find your grey language – and fix it: ‘Grey language’ is an unofficial term which refers to unclear or cluttered language. If talking about accessibility, use clear language to indicate what disability you’re accessible to, and how you’re accessible. For example: ‘Wheelchair accessible front entrance ramp.’ Similarly, if talking about inclusion, clarify what disability you’re inclusive of, and how so. For example: ‘Our social club has a sensory room that contains beanbags and sensory beads, which can be used by anyone with a neurodiversity or sensory condition.’
We’re here to help!
Talking about disability doesn’t have to be hard! Over the next few months, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Team will be helping you to understand your language. Help us as we work to create a more inclusive Deakin, one word at a time. You can keep up to date on SharePoint.
What next?
Want to test your disability knowledge? Head to Interacty for a quick game of Match the Disability Symbol, test your disability vocabulary knowledge at KnoWord, or check out James Bond’s visit to Love on the Spectrum to learn more about tone and meaning.
Featured image credit: Photo by Cliff Booth