Public Services and Procurement Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Institutional Links

 

Important notice

The Canadian Style has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.

For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!

Search Canada.ca

14.14 Fair and Representative Depiction of People with Disabilities, Identification of groups

Do not define people by their disorders or use dehumanizing stereotypes, such as "the disabled," "the blind," "the retarded."

  • Be aware of the self-identification preferences of individuals or groups:
    • people/persons with disabilities not the handicapped
    • Canadians with disabilities not disabled Canadians
  • The generic term "people with disabilities" can be adapted to the purpose of the text:
    • passengers requiring assistance to board the plane/train
    • students who use wheelchairs
    • clients with a hearing impairment