2006-12-07 22:03:54 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
A generic term would be 'Person with a physical disability'
If it is someone you know and you want to know how to refer to their disability though the best thing to do is ask.
2006-12-07 22:07:07 · answer #1 · answered by Curiouslad 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends in the context. As someone else said 'a person with disabilities' is the most PC phrase as it acknowledges them as a person and not their condition.
Although, as someone else brought up, trying to be PC may not always be the best thing. For me, if someone tries to run around the fact that I am disabled by trying to be PC it annoys me. To me that is worse than some of the names that have been mentioned (and rated down) because it shows that they have little knowlegde of my (or any) disability and are afraid that I may get upset if they use the wrong terminology. And in trying to be so PC, I wonder what they REALLY think of me? A lot worse! They have to think about what phrases/words to use, and that generally means that they have some words they are trying not to say.
Honesty is always the best policy.
And for the record, I am not offended by the (so-called) 'offensive' terms if used without offense. For example, my family and I have a name for my Blue Badge (parking permit) which would be considered offensive, but I would be offended by them if they started to get all PC on me.
2006-12-08 02:47:02 · answer #2 · answered by nobodies36 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm physically disabled, and the most PC phrase I've heard was 'Oh, don't mind her, she's physically challenged' and honestly it made me laugh. People try so hard not to offend people with disabilities it's almost funny. If you know the name of the condition that's probably the best thing to say E.g... He/She has ______. Or plain old disabled or handicapped works fine too.
:)
2006-12-08 22:30:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Err...you guys with the 'funny' answers are all idiots!
Spasticity is only one specific condition. Physical handicap can be for a number of reasons - you should find out what the underlying problem or illness is and refer to it in that way. i.e are they quadraplegic or do they have a muscle etc. disease? Physical handicaps vary so much - people may be paralysed from the neck down, wheelchair bound or require aids to walk or do other tasks. Try to be more specific about what it is that you are talking about.
2006-12-07 22:14:37 · answer #4 · answered by Philadelphia 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Special Needs
2006-12-07 22:06:00 · answer #5 · answered by leedsmikey 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the PC way to refer to such a person is PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED. if you think about it the prefix DIS menas unable to do something, and i am perfectly capable (with few exceptions) of doing anything an able bodied person can do. it may get done with some modifications as to the way you would do things but it would get done all the same
and dont think for a minute i wouldnt correct you because i would...as the term DISABLED is highly offensive to me!
2006-12-08 05:01:10 · answer #6 · answered by luckyduck2006 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate this question. We all have disabilitys, just some of them you can't see. Why do we have to call anyone anything apart from their name. I suppose you could say that someone has a disability. I even hate that i'm answering this, how PC does that make me?
2006-12-07 22:30:05 · answer #7 · answered by : 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Disabled.
2006-12-07 22:11:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think most police Constables call them Cripples, Wheelchair jockeys etc, Mentally Handicapped are by contrast Nutters
2006-12-08 14:16:18 · answer #9 · answered by "Call me Dave" 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
in the UK disabled has replaced the term handicapped
2006-12-07 22:09:32 · answer #10 · answered by benji 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋