What is the polite way to refer to a person with a learning disability?

Question

My friend says that mongoloid is acceptable because it is the old Latin reference, but I'm not so sure. Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer 1

mentally handicapped, learning disabled, learning handicapped.

not too sure about the 3rd one.

Answer 2

Mongoloid is so old fashioned and offensive. Please don't use it.

When referring to any person with a disability, say, "He has a learning disability," or," She has a hearing impairment." Try not to label the person, but rather name their challenge. A person who cannot hear is not simply "hearing impaired", as that is not the sum of their parts. That's just one bit of who they are. Try and keep the person and their particular disability separate, because people aren't disabled, they have a disability.

If you meet a person with a particular challenge or impairment, listen to how they describe themselves, and use that term. If you are unsure, ask them what term they would prefer be used.

If you are introducing someone with a disability to someone else, you needn't even mention the problem. Simply introduce them as you would anyone else.

Answer 3

By saying "person with a learning disability." Any other phrase is incredibly insensitive, ESPECIALLY mongoloid. (Mongoloid was coined to label people with Down syndrome, anyway, so it would be an incorrect term even if it were socially acceptable.)

When referring to a person with any kind of disability, please always use "people first" language. In other words, they are a person first, not a condition. Instead of saying "retarded kid," or "autistic girl," say "child with mental retardation," or "girl with autism." Don't label people - they are still people after all, despite any disability they may have.

Answer 4

I do not think there is such a word, either you will offend the person or the person's family. It doesn't matter if the person is a "vegetable" and doesnt understand what is going on around him or her, but if you say "mentally disabled", ""mentally challenged" you WILL insult someome. It is the same thing i guess when you call an old person old or senior, they get offended, even if it is true!!

Be careful when you discuss this, because people can be pretty cruel and rude when responding!

Answer 5

"Learning disability" refers more to dyslexia or something like that. Some jerkoff who wants to call someone a mongoloid is REALLY thinking about someone who has a developmental disability, which includes mental retardation, Down's syndrome, etc.

Why not just call them by their name?

Answer 6

would you want to be referred to by some distinguishing feature? mongoloid was used because of the similarity in eye slant. Asian people are of the Mongoloid race. Down Syndrome is OK, but why bother? they're people same us you and me.

Answer 7

Are you referring to children with Down's Syndrome? That would be the correct and polite term.
Why would you even want to make mention of a person's disability?

Answer 8

Say, this is my friend Bob.
Period end of sentence.

If you are discuss his situation professionally, it would be better said like this: "As an example, my friend Bob, diagnosed with a learning disability, has had problems keeping a job."

They are people first!!!!

Answer 9

I would ask what the person with the disability prefers. I have worked with mentally disabled people and they will tell you "I have Down's or I am a little slow", go with their preference.

Answer 10

Challenged, Mongoloid is offensive and ignorant.