Writing About Disability: Tips from the UMBC Style Guide

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 14:21:19 -0400
accessibility, autistic, deaf, disability, diversity, equity, handicapped, identity, inclusion, journalism, resources, writing

For Disability Awareness Month - take a look at UMBC's Style Guide for tips on how to write effectively about people with disabilities with the section on Inclusive and Affirming Language. With 20-33% of the population either having a disability or having a qualifying health condition (which includes mental health) during their lifetime, it's a tangible benefit to know the basics.

Certainly with the wide range of people with disabilities, this entry is a beginning, with several examples. Additional resources beyond the guide include:

EDUCAUSE Inclusive Language Guide

National Network for Information, Guidance, and Training on the Americans with Disabilities Act

National Center on Disability and Journalism.

If there are further disability-related questions, please reach out to UMBC Accessibility & Disability Services.

A cropped photo of a person's hands writing in a notebook with a pen, near a laptop, books, a pair of glasses and a hot beverage accompanies this post. Credit: Thought Catalog via Unsplash.com.