果冻APP

Disability Sensitivity Guide
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in every 3 adults in Louisiana has a disability. A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).

There are many types of disabilities, such as those that affect a person鈥檚:

• Vision
• Movement
• Thinking
• Remembering
• Learning
• Communicating
• Hearing
• Mental health
• Social relationships

Although 鈥減eople with disabilities鈥� sometimes refers to a single population, this is actually a diverse group of people with a wide range of needs. Two people with the same type of disability can be affected in very different ways. Some disabilities may be hidden or not easy to see.

According to the World Health Organization, disability has three dimensions:

1. Impairment聽in a person鈥檚 body structure or function, or mental functioning; examples of impairments include loss of a limb, loss of vision or memory loss.
2. Activity limitation, such as difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, or problem solving.
3. Participation restrictions聽in normal daily activities, such as working, engaging in social and recreational activities, and obtaining health care and preventive services.

果冻APP is committed to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities, which means including them in every day activities and encouraging them to have roles similar to their peers who do not have a disability. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 are two federal laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and encouraging their inclusion in many areas.

One of the easiest ways to create an inclusive environment, that is most often overlooked, is the use of effective communication. Disability is part of the human experience, but sometimes people use words or phrases that are insensitive and do not promote the understanding, dignified and respectful atmosphere we aim to achieve here at 果冻APP State. More often than not, this is not intentional, but can be hurtful just the same. Learn how to communicate with and about people with disabilities using people-first language and other helpful tips.

 

Tips	Use	Do not use
Emphasize abilities, not limitations	路聽 Person who uses a wheelchair 路聽 Person who uses a device to speak	路聽 Confined or restricted to a wheelchair, or wheelchair bound 路聽 聽Can鈥檛 talk, mute
Do not use language that suggests the lack of something	路聽 Person with a disability 路聽 Person of short stature 路聽 Person with cerebral palsy 路聽 Person with epilepsy or seizure disorder 路聽 Person with multiple sclerosis	路聽 聽Disabled, handicapped 路聽 聽Midget 路聽 聽Cerebral palsy victim 路聽 聽Epileptic 路聽 聽Afflicted by multiple sclerosis
Emphasize the need for accessibility, not the disability	路聽 Accessible parking or bathroom	路聽 聽Handicapped parking or bathroom
Do not use offensive language	路聽 Person with a physical disability 路聽 Person with an intellectual, cognitive, developmental disability 路 Person with and emotional or behavioral disability, a mental health impairment, or a psychiatric disability	路聽 Crippled, lame, deformed, invalid, spastic 路聽 Slow, simple, moronic, defective, afflicted, special person 路聽 Insane, crazy, psycho, maniac, nuts
Avoid language that implies negative stereotypes	路聽 Person without a disability	路聽 Normal person, healthy person
Do not portray people with disabilities as inspirational only because of their disability	路聽 Person who is successful, productive	路聽 Has overcome his/her disability, is courageous