Letter: Using Respectful and Appropriate Disability Language

Date Published: 15 June 2023

This is an open letter to all media practitioners, especially editors, Members of Parliament (MPs) and state assemblymen (ADUNs), and ministers.

We thank those of you who have demonstrated support for persons with disabilities. With Malaysia’s aspiration to be a developed nation, it is time to consider the use of inappropriate language for referring to persons with disabilities and disability-related matters. How do we use terminology that shapes behaviour, breaks barriers and exclusion, and does not reinforce stereotypes? 

Respectful and appropriate disability language in communication acknowledges the dignity and celebrates the diversity of persons with disabilities.

It does not reinforce negative stereotyping and derogatory labels that connote pity and lesser value. Each time respectful and appropriate language is used is a blow to discrimination on the basis of disability. 

Respectful and appropriate disability language also recognises that disability is not the defining characteristic of a person, but rather one aspect of individual identity and experience. 

We would like to share some general principles of respectful and appropriate disability language, and hope that this will translate into better media reporting and comments and statements made by ministers, MPs, and ADUNs. 

First, it is important to respect the preferences and choices of persons with disabilities regarding how to be referred to. When in doubt, just ask the person with disability.

Second, please avoid euphemisms or terms that are patronising, offensive, or inaccurate. For example, do not use terms such as “special needs”, “differently abled”, “handicapped”, or “mentally retarded”.

These terms imply that disability is something to be ashamed of, to be hidden or avoided. It reinforces the medical model that views disability as “an anomaly” to be medically “fixed” and persons with disabilities as “damaged” and “incomplete”.

Instead, acknowledge the centrality of the person (see table below) and use clear and respectful terms, such as “disability”, “accessibility”, “accommodation”, or “inclusion”.

One common incorrect reference to the non-disabled population is “normal” or “healthy”. This reinforces the wrong view that persons with disabilities (the OKU community) is somehow “abnormal” or “unhealthy”.

It is best to use “non-disabled” in place of “normal” or “healthy”. And use “neurotypical” instead of “of sound mind”.  

Third, avoid terms that underscore a “victim” attitude towards disability, such as “suffering from”, “afflicted with”, “confined to”, or “incapacitated by”.

These terms perpetrate outdated views that disability is a burden, a tragedy. and a source of pity. Instead, use neutral or positive terms, such as “living with”, “experiencing” or “has”.

Some persons may prefer identity-first language, such as “autistic person” or “deaf person”, rather than person-first language, e.g., “person with autism”.

The table below offers suggested terms to use and words to avoid for some common disabilities, but it is not exhaustive. It lists some suggested terms in accordance with international good practice — see the 2022 United Nations Disability-Inclusive Communications Guidelines.

Language is constantly evolving. The change happens as disabled persons change, as do community understanding of our relationships, rights, place in society and aspirations for the future. 

The key is to remain respectful of each other, as we work towards ensuring that everyone’s place in society is enabled and we grow as an inclusive society.

Using respectful and appropriate language empowers the individual and the community. It is time that we as a nation change our use of demeaning terminology, to respect persons with disabilities.

Let’s remember this: disability does not limit a person; it is the inaccessible environment that stops progress. And our choice of language shapes that environment.

Signatories

1. Dato’ Dr. Amar-Singh HSS, person with dyslexia, child-disability activist, Advisor for National Early Childhood Intervention Council (NECIC); Member, The OKU Rights Matter Project
2. Yuenwah San, Co-Founder-Member, The OKU Rights Matter Project; Member, Harapan OKU Law Reform Group; disability rights activist-care partner; and Honorary Senior Advisor (Disability Inclusion), Social Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
3. Ng Lai-Thin, care partner, and Project Lead, National Early Childhood Intervention Council; and Member, The OKU Rights Matter Project
4. Meera Samanther, disability-gender activist, parent advocate, and Committee Member, Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
5. Anit Kaur Randhawa, Member of the Harapan OKU Law Reform Group; Vice President (Legal), Medico Legal Society Malaysia (MLSM); Member, The OKU Rights Matter Project
6. Nori Abdullah Badawi, owner of We Rock the Spectrum Gym for All Kids, Chairman of Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia and parent advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion
7. Senator (R) Datuk (Dr.) Ras Adiba Radzi, President Persatuan OKU Sentral; and President Persatuan Para Menembak Malaysia
8. Bathmavathi Krishnan, President, Association of Women with Disabilities Malaysia
9. Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, Suhakam
10. Kaveinthran Palanthran, Independent Disabled Human Rights Activist
11. Dr. Shyielathy Arumugam, Special Education Teacher, MOE & Parent Advocate
12. Beatrice Leong, autistic, filmmaker and founder of AIDA (Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group)
13. Dr. Ikmal Hisham Md. Tah, Senior Law Lecturer UiTM/ Disability Rights Law Researcher
14. Dr. Lim Tien Hong, Chairperson Department of Communication, Advocacy & Human Right, Society of the Blind in Malaysia
15. Edmund Lim, disability equity and inclusion activist for children, care partner, Research Officer, Persatuan WeCareJourney
16. Dr. Alvin Ng Lai Oon, Professor of Psychology, Sunway University
17. Mohamad Sazali Shaari, Persatuan Ibubapa dan Penjaga Anak Pekak Kuala Lumpur
18. Our Journey, migrants and refugee rights advocate
19. Centre for Independent Journalism
20. Joan Sim Jo Jo, Vice Chairperson, Sarawak Society for the Deaf
21. Desiree Kaur, Founder of Project Haans; Vice President of Kiwanis Club of TTDI
22. Murugeswaran Veerasamy, President Damai Disabled Person Associatian Malaysia
23. Ai-Na Khor, disability activist and service provider, Asia Community Service
24. Sha Roose, person with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, disability activist
25. END CSEC Network
26. Malaysian Association of Sign Language Interpreter (MyASLI)
27. Kemban Kolektif Consultancy – intersectionality of gender & disabilities
28. Faiz Shuhaimi, President, Majlis Belia OKU Malaysia
29. Annie Ong, President, National Organization of Malaysian Sign Language (NowBIM)
30. Sharifah Tahir, care partner, Teepa Snow Positive Approach to Care Certified Independent Consultant and Trainer, Founder of UniquelyMeInitiatives
31. Make It Right Movement
32. Elijah Irwin, Officer, Malaysian Foundation for The Blind (MFB)
33. Family Frontiers
34. Prof Dr Toh Teck Hock, Disabilities & Child Health Activist; Vice President, National Early Childhood Intervention Council (NECIC) Malaysia; Global Medical Advisory Committee Member, Special Olympics Inc.; Consultant Paediatrician and Clinical Researcher
35. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
36. Mary Shanthi Dairiam, Founding Director, IWRAW Asia Pacific and Former UN CEDAW Committee Member, Human Rights and Equality Advocate
37. Leela Koran, PhD. Linguist with an interest in disability-related issues
38. Feilina Feisol, Board Member of National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) and Ronald McDonald House of Charity (RMHC)
39. Anthony Chong, Co-Founder-Secretary, Malaysian Sign Language and Deaf Studies Association (MyBIM)
40. Syed Azmi, PUAKPayong
41. Siti Aishah Hassan Hasri, SPOT Community Project
42. Tini Zainudin, Child activist
43. Maalini Ramalo, Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas (DHRRA), Malaysia
44. Angie Heng, Executive Director, Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation
45. Dr. Ling How Kee, Social work educator and disability rights supporter
46. Dato Dr Ramanathan, CEO YAYASAN IPOH
47. Dunstan Lim, Chairperson, Sarawak OKU Skills Development Association (SOSDA)
48. Dr. Zahilah Filzah Zulkifli, co-founder of doktorbudak and Chairman of Malaysian Advocates for Child Health
49. Dr Wong Woan Yiing, Consultant Paediatrician, committee member, Network for the Needs of Children with Disability Perak
50. Childline Foundation
51. Toy Libraries Malaysia
52. Cathryn Anila, Vanguards4Change
53. Dr Julia Lee, Associate Professor (Education Sciences), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
54. Anisa Ahmad, President Persatuan Pengasuhan dan Perkembangan Awal Kanak- kanak Berdaftar Malaysia (PPBM)
55. Ivy Josiah, Women’s Rights Advocate
56. ENGENDER Consultancy, a CSO advancing gender equality
57. Malaysian Association of Social Workers
58. NGOhub
59. Wong Hui Min, President, National Early Childhood Intervention Council, Malaysia
60. Sin Tiew Cheo, Chairman, SPICES Early Intervention Centre
61. Izyan Nadiah Md Noh, Special and Inclusive Education Advocate
62. Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
63. Sherrene Teh, Registered Music Therapist, member of the Malaysian Music Therapy Association, ELITE@UM Fellow 2023
64. Tay Chia Yi, Vice President, Malaysian Association of Speech-language & Hearing (MASH)
65. Aishah Diyana, Clinical Psychologist and caregiver to a person with dementia
66. Prudence Lingham, speech therapist, parent, committee member, Persatuan CHILD Sabah
67. Sivasangaran Kumaran, Rare Disease Advocate
68. Alvin Teoh, National Family Support Group for Children and People with Special Needs
69. Lee Yu Ying, Behaviour Analyst and Co-Founder of Shining Star Learning Hub
70. Mary Chen, disability advocate, care partner
71. Srividhya Ganapathy, person with ADHD, child rights activist, co-chairperson of CRIB Foundation
72. Raaginee Shalesh, founder of Pusat Jagaan & Latihan Insan Istimewa IMC
73. Mabel Gong Siew Choo, care partner
74. Buku Jalanan Chow Kit
75. Cikgu Rahayu, children education activist
76. Goh Siu Lin, Family & Child Rights Lawyer
77. Sharmila Sekaran, Voice of the Children
78. Methodist Care Centre, Sarawak
79. Ms Lam Saw Yin, President, Special Olympics Malaysia
80. Stella Chia Siew Chin, Pusat Jagaan Kanak kanak Ceria Murni
81. Kong Lan Lee, Director, Persuatuan Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Kajang Selangor
82. Saiful Abdul Hamid, a semi-caregiver for PWD and an avid lifelong learner
83. Tan Kuan Aw, artist with multiple disabilities and disability rights activist
84. Maizan binti Mohd Salleh, Founder & President of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Albinism Association
85. Christine Lee, wheelchair user
86. Vicky Chan, Harapan OKU Member
87. Hanizan Hussin, Group Founder of the National Down Syndrome Association, Malaysia; advocate / activist of individual person with Down Syndrome; Pengerusi, Persatuan Warga Sindrom Down Negeri Selangor, dan Pertubuhan Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti Sindrom Down
88. Anita Abu Bakar, Founder and President of the Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association (MIASA), President Persatuan Advokasi Kebangsaan Kesihatan Mental (NAMhA)
89. Sisters in Islam
90. Malaysia Federation of the Deaf
91. Dr Choy Sook Kuen, founder Oasis Place multidisciplinary intervention centre
92. Nik Nadia Binti Nik Mohd Yusoff – Mother of 2 autistic girls
93. Persatuan OKU Sentral
94. Dr Hasnah Toran, chairman, Raudhah Autism
95. Ahmad Daniel Sharani, deputy chairman, Persatuan OKU Sentral
96. Nazmin Abdullah, chairman, Perlis Akreditasi Teens Center (PESTEC)
97. Siti Khadijah Mohd Zamin, principal, Akademi Remaja Autisme Islam (ARISMA)
98. Noradilah Abdullah, Nur Kidz Center
99. Fakhruddin Zakaria, president, Persatuan Pembangunan Orang Kurang Upaya Anggota Terengganu (POKUAT)
100. Prof Dr Ruzita Mohd Amin, head, Disability Services Unit, IIUM
101. Mohd Rizal Mat Noor, chairman, Persatuan Advokasi Kecederaan Saraf Tunjang Malaysia (MASAA)
102. Zamri Mansor, chairperson, Persatuan Pengguna Kerusi Roda Malaysia (PPKRM)
103. Ch’ng B’ao Zhong, autistic, licensed and registered counsellor, psychology officer (counselling), Ministry of Health
104. Dr. Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, Member (2008-2012), National Council of Persons with Disabilities Malaysia; Associate Professor Universiti Malaya (retired)

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