Inclusive Communication and Language Use Tips
Language, and the words we choose to use, is powerful. You can include (or exclude) someone just by using the wrong word. And if you are not feeling comfortable about which word to use, you can feel awkward… which makes it awkward for the person you’re interacting with too.
Clear, inclusive, appropriate, inoffensive language is important, and if agreed upon and used broadly can help everyone understand and feel included. Below are some suggestions of which words to use, and which words to avoid. This is meant as a starting point, and by no means should be considered hard-and-fast rules. Language is always evolving, and individuals have the right to choose how they wish to be identified; it is up to their allies to respect their wishes. Follow the lead of the person you’re referring to; if they have a preference that is different to this guide, please follow their wishes!
Generally, person-first, enabling language is preferred. Describe someone as “a person who is blind or has low vision”, rather than “a blind person”. State that someone is a “wheelchair user” (ie, a person who uses a wheelchair to get around), rather than saying they are “wheelchair bound” (which can imply that without a wheelchair they can do nothing… which is almost never accurate). However, some folks, particularly autistic people and Deaf people, prefer identity-first language.
Don’t use words that ‘feel more polite’ but are actually avoiding the reality of the situation (and often seen as patronizing), such as ‘differently abled’, ‘handi-capable’ or ‘special needs’. Most people are aware of their ability or disability, so it’s OK to say it out loud! Think of it like hair color – saying, “your hair is brown” is hardly offensive. But squirming and making it awkward as you try to find an alternative ‘more polite’ way to say it (“Your hair is a darker blonde?” “Your hair is a lovely shade of pale black?”) just makes everyone uncomfortable.
There are many groups of people who experience accessibility challenges in the physical, social or cultural environments that prevent them from going birding, and such a diverse group of people will not always agree on everything. That’s OK! This list is just a starting point; if you’re unsure, best practice is to ask the person (or people) what term they would prefer you use, and use that. (Usually their own name is what they’d prefer to be called!) Their preference overrides whatever is on this list.
Accessibility challenges: The difficulties someone experiences in interacting with or while using the physical or social environment while trying to engage in a meaningful activity (in this case, birding!). This may be a result of a mobility challenge, blindness or low vision, intellectual or developmental disabilities (including autism), mental illness, being Deaf or Hard of Hearing or other health concern, however often it is the environment – rather than the person – who is disabled. Best used to describe a person as “someone who experiences accessibility challenges”. (Note: accessibility challenges may also be related to factors such as someone’s race or skin color, financial barriers, or lack of available transportation; and many birders who experience accessibility challenges may also experience other barriers such as these that impact their ability to go birding.)
People with mobility challenges: Includes anyone who has some difficulties walking or otherwise mobilizing. This includes people who are wheelchair users; people who use crutches, walking frames or mobility devices; people with injuries or grumpy joints; (sometimes) people who use lower limb prosthetics; and people with movement or balance disorders. It also (sometimes) includes older people, parents with young children… and (more than likely) our future selves…!
Birdability Map: The crowd-sourced, clickable map with information on the accessibility of local trails. It relies on birders to complete a Birdability Review to populate the Map. Can be found at Audubon.org/birdability
Birdability Site Review: The easy-to-use survey of accessible features of a birding trail or site, which populates the Birdability Map. Found at audubon.org/birdability
Birding vs bird watching: We prefer ‘birding’, as it does not imply only using one’s eyes, but includes all birders who bird by ear, whether they are blind or have low vision or are sighted.
Bird walk vs bird outing: We prefer ‘bird outing’ or ‘field trip’, as this includes all kinds of birding, such as birding in a bird blind, birding from the car, and birding that otherwise does not involve the act of walking. (However, many birders who cannot walk may still use the phrase ‘bird walk’ to describe a particular kind of bird outing.)
Disability: Any physical, cognitive or mental diagnosis, condition, illness, injury or otherwise that impacts someone’s ability to do a particular activity; in this case, go birding as they would like. May be temporary (eg. during recovery from surgery), intermittent (eg. fatigue as a result of a flare up episode of multiple sclerosis) or permanent (eg. spinal cord injury).
Able-bodied/temporarily able-bodied: Someone who does not have a disability.
Normal: Avoid if you’re talking about someone without a disability. (What is “normal”, anyway?) Instead, use able-bodied, sighted, hearing, neurotypical, or all of the above.
Invisible disability: Not all disabilities or health conditions have an outward sign of their presence. You won’t necessarily be able to identify by sight birders who have conditions like chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia or lupus, for example, but many of these birders may experience accessibility challenges. Other diagnosis such as Autism or mental illnesses may have no outward signs either. Keeping an open, inclusive, welcoming attitude may help birders disclose some of their story to you, but don’t assume all birders can hike fast or won’t need that promised five minute rest break during your bird outing.
Handicapped: These days used only to describe an inanimate object, such as a parking space, but not a person.
Differently-abled: Avoid.
People with physical challenges: Includes people who have some kind of difficulty moving in any way. This may include anything from difficulty walking (aka mobility), or difficulty using their left hand. Best to avoid in the context of Birdability, as it is unclear and not inclusive.
Impairments; impaired: No longer in common use; often feels uncomfortable to the people you may be describing. Use ‘low vision’ rather than ‘vision impaired’, for example.
Barriers: Any obstacle, physical, social or cultural, that prevents someone from doing something they would like to. May be a physical barrier such as a downed log on a trail preventing a birder who uses a wheelchair from continuing along the trail; or a cultural barrier (or taboo) which says (falsely!) that people with disabilities should not go outside.
Totally blind: Someone who has no light perception.
Legally blind: Used by the government to determine if someone can legally drive or receive certain benefits. In the US, visual acuity must be less than 20/200 in the better seeing eye or the visual field must be less than 20°. People who are legally blind are not always totally blind.
Low vision: Cannot be corrected with glasses or surgery; historically the phrase ‘vision impaired’ was used. Not the same as being blind. The technical definition of low vision is visual acuity of 20/70 or poorer in the better seeing eye.
Vision impaired/vision impairment: No longer used to describe someone who is totally blind, legally blind or has an eye condition (progressive or congenital) which causes low vision. Use the phrase ‘blind or has low vision’. Avoid words like ‘unsighted’.
Sighted: Describes someone who is not blind or has low vision.
Words and phrases like “see you later”: People who are blind or have low vision understand what you mean by phrases like this, even if they are totally blind and will not, in fact, see you later. This is not considered offensive or insensitive; just use your natural language choices and everyone will feel more comfortable!
Deaf, deaf or hard of hearing: Used by the Deaf community (with a capital “D”) as their preferred description. Members of the Deaf community use sign language as their main method of communication. As with other languages, the different grammatical structures and different ways of describing things create a whole new culture; thus Deaf community with a capital “D”. Used with a lower case “d”, people who are deaf do not use sign language as their main language, and may instead using hearing aids or Cochlear implants. Some people prefer to identify as hard of hearing instead.
Intellectual or Developmental Disability (I/DD or IDD): An umbrella term used to describe a range of disabilities. This covers a really large population, and like any other person, every individual will be different and have different needs and experiences.
Intellectual disabilities: Impacts someone’s intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. They may (or may not) have some difficulties with communication skills, performing everyday activities, or understanding or applying social skills.
Developmental disabilities: Cause intellectual and/or physical impairments in functioning before the age of 22. Diagnostically, Autism is considered a developmental disability.
Autism/Autistic: Some people who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (which includes people who have Asperger’s Syndrome) refer to themselves has “having Autism”, “being on the Spectrum”, “having ASD” or “being Autistic”. This varies person-to-person, so best to ask them what they prefer, or follow their lead.
Neurodiverse: Term used to describe all the different ways humans’ brains operate. Includes people who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia and more.
Neurotypical: Someone who doesn’t have Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Power wheelchair vs electric wheelchair: Use “power wheelchair”; historically “electric wheelchair” was sometimes used to draw inappropriate parallels with electric chairs used for electrocution.
More information can be found at the National Center on Disability and Journalism’s website in their Disability Language Style Guide.
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Photo in page header: Melanie Furr. Taken during a Georgia Audubon and Shepherd Center accessible bird outing in Atlanta, Georgia.