Content in the appendix is from A guide to talking about disability by Arts Access Victoria

The language of disability is always evolving and different terms are used within and outside of Australia. It can be political, it can be personal, and it can be quite confusing. Here are a few tips to help you on your way:

• Avoid stereotypical or stigmatising depiction of disabled people
• Avoid phrases and words that demean individuals with disability
• Promote the ‘people first’ concept
• Disabled people are not 'suffering from', 'victims of' or 'afflicted by' their disability
• Disabled people are not overcoming their disability, but the barriers that the rest of society puts in front of them
• Disabled people should not be portrayed as courageous or tortured, but rather as individuals who find alternative means to accomplish everyday activities

A guide to engaging with disabled people

• Talk directly to the person with disability, not their friend/partner/carer
• Talk directly the Deaf person, not the Auslan interpreter
• Ask if the person with disability needs help, but don’t be offended if they refuse
• Don’t guide a blind person or person in a wheelchair without their permission, and follow the directions they instruct
• Don’t make assumptions about a person’s ability. Always assume competence

When should I capitalise Deaf?

A capital D is used to indicate that the subject or audience identifies with Deaf culture. Lowercase ‘d’ is used when speaking about a person’s ability to hear. When writing about topics around Deaf culture, use ‘Deaf’. When writing generally, or referring to both people who are Deaf and people who are hard of hearing, use ‘deaf or hard of hearing'.

Wording we recommend

• Disabled people (preferred)
• Person with a disability
• People with disabilities