Language Guidelines
 Words matter. Words can open doors to
cultivate the understanding and respect that
enable people with disabilities to lead fuller,
more independent lives. Words also can create
barriers or stereotypes that are not only
demeaning to people with disabilities, but also
rob them of their individuality.
The following language guidelines have been
developed by experts for use by anyone writing
or speaking about people with intellectual
disabilities to ensure that all people are
portrayed with individuality and dignity.
Appropriate
Terminology
Why did Special Olympics update its
terminology from "mental retardation" to
"intellectual disabilities"? In response to a
call from our athletes and the growing social
unacceptability of the term "mental retardation"
around the world, Special Olympics has adopted
the term "intellectual disabilities" when
referring to the people with whom we serve. The
word "mental" can be confused with the term
"mental illness" and the word "retardation" is
associated with offensive terms such as "retard"
or "retarded." |
Why is language and specific terminology
important? Special Olympics prefers to focus on
people and their gifts and accomplishments, and
to dispel negative attitudes and stereotypes. In
an ideal world, labels would not exist, but
unfortunately they do and language choices can
have a powerful impact on impressions and
attitudes. As language has evolved, Special
Olympics has updated its official terminology to
use more widely accepted terminology that is
more acceptable to our athletes.
- Special Olympics uses the term "intellectual
disabilities." Other terms are used around the
world.
- Refer to participants in Special Olympics as
"Special Olympics athletes" rather than "Special
Olympians" or "Special Olympic athletes."
- Use "people-first language." Refer to
individuals, persons or people with intellectual
disabilities, rather than "intellectually
disabled people" or "the intellectually
disabled."
- People have intellectual disabilities,
rather than are "suffering from," "afflicted
with" or "a victim of" intellectual
disabilities.
- Distinguish between adults and children with
intellectual disabilities. Use adults or
children, or older or younger athletes.
- A person "uses" a wheelchair, rather than is
"confined" or "restricted to" a wheelchair.
- "Down syndrome" has replaced "Down’s
Syndrome" and "mongoloid."
- Refer to participants in Special Olympics as
athletes. In no case should the word athletes
appear in quotation marks.
- When writing, refer to persons with a
disability in the same style as persons without
a disability: full name on first reference and
last name on subsequent references. Do not refer
to an individual with an intellectual disability
as "Bill" rather than the journalistically
correct "Bill Smith" or "Smith."
- A person is physically challenged or
disabled rather than crippled.
- Use the words "Special Olympics" when
referring to the worldwide Special Olympics
movement.
- Use the words "Special Olympics Montana" when
referring to the statewide Special Olympics
chapter program in Montana.
Terminology to
Avoid
 Do not use the label "kids" when referring
to Special Olympics athletes. Adult athletes are
an integral part of the Movement.
- Do not preface Special Olympics with the
word "the." This implies that Special Olympics
is a one-time, singular event rather than a
year-round, ongoing program of sports training
and competition.
- Do not use the adjective "unfortunate" when
talking about people with intellectual
disabilities. Disabling conditions do not have
to be life-defining in a negative way.
- Do not sensationalize the accomplishments of
persons with disabilities. While these
accomplishments should be recognized and
applauded, people in the disability rights
movement have tried to make the public aware of
the negative impact of referring to the
achievements of people with physical or
intellectual disabilities with excessive
hyperbole.
- Use the word "special" with extreme care
when talking about persons with intellectual
disabilities. The term, if used excessively in
references to Special Olympics athletes and
activities, can become a
cliché.
See Factsheet on Intellectual Disability
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