Disabilities and conditions

We use the social model of disability, that says people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference. Find out about the social model on Scope's website.

Use positive language and don't label people with disabilities and conditions.

Use:

• 'disabled people' or 'disabled person'
• 'people or person with [a condition]', such as:
  • a 'mental health condition' or 'mental health problem'
  • a 'visual impairment', you can also say 'blind people' or 'blind and partially sighted people'
  • depression
  • diabetes
  • epilepsy
• 'people who have seizures' or 'person who has seizures'
• 'people or person who uses a wheelchair' or 'wheelchair user'

Do not use:

• 'people or person with a disability', which could suggest they're responsible for their disability
• 'disabled'
• 'handicapped'
• 'invalid'
• 'the blind'
• 'the deaf'
• a 'depressive', 'diabetic' or 'epileptic'
• 'mentally ill'
• 'fits, spells, attacks'
• 'afflicted by'
• 'suffering from'
• 'victim of'
• 'confined to'
• 'retarded'
• 'crippled'
• 'sick' or 'diseased person'

Do not use 'able-bodied' for those without a disability, use 'non-disabled' instead.