A new student, Aarav, uses a wheelchair and has joined the physical education class. Some classmates push his

Concept understanding — Disability Terminology

Disability Terminology — A First Look

Think of language as a tool that shapes how we see people. The words we choose can either include someone or push them to the margins. Disability terminology is the set of words and phrases we use to talk about people with disabilities — and the way we use them has changed over time because our understanding has changed.

The core idea is simple: a person is not their disability. A person who cannot see is not "a blind person" in the sense that blindness defines their entire identity. They are a person who happens to be blind. This shift — putting the person first — is the heart of modern disability terminology.

The Two Main Approaches

There are two broad frameworks you will encounter, especially in Indian exams and policy documents.

1. Person-First Language — This is the dominant approach in official contexts (NCERT, government schemes, medical reports). You say "a person with a disability" or "a child with visual impairment." The person comes first; the condition comes second. The idea is to avoid reducing someone to their impairment.

2. Identity-First Language — Some communities prefer this. For example, many Deaf people say "Deaf person" proudly, seeing it as a cultural identity, not a medical condition. Similarly, some autistic adults say "autistic person" because they see autism as inseparable from who they are. In exam contexts, person-first language is safer unless a specific community preference is mentioned.

Important

In Indian exam settings (CBSE, UPSC, state boards), person-first language is the standard. Always write "persons with disabilities" (PwD), not "disabled persons," unless quoting a specific source that uses identity-first language.

Key Terms You Must Know

Here are the terms that appear most often in Indian syllabi and the RPwD Act 2016.

Term	What It Means	What to Avoid
Impairment	A biological condition — loss of a body part or function (e.g., missing a limb, poor eyesight)	Using "impairment" as a synonym for "disability"
Disability	The interaction between a person with an impairment and barriers in society (steps, no braille, prejudice)	Saying "suffering from" a disability
Handicap	A disadvantage that results from the disability — e.g., a wheelchair user is not handicapped by the chair but by a building with no ramp	Using "handicapped" as a label for people (it's outdated)
Special needs	Used for children who need extra support in education	"Special children" — this is vague and can be patronising
Differently abled	A term sometimes used in India to sound positive	Many disability activists reject it as euphemistic; "person with disability" is preferred

Watch out

Never use "crippled," "lame," "dumb," "retarded," "handicapped person," or "confined to a wheelchair." These are considered offensive. Say "person who uses a wheelchair" instead.

The Social Model vs. The Medical Model

This is the single most important conceptual shift you need to make.

Medical Model — The old way. It says: the problem is in the person's body. Fix the body, or the person is "less able." This leads to pity, segregation, and terms like "patient" or "sufferer." …

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The teacher is applying disability etiquette; the class must stop moving Aarav's wheelchair uninvited and stop bypassing him, and instead ask first and address him directly — this preserves his dignity and independence.

The concept the teacher is applying: Disability etiquette — the respectful, dignity-based code of conduct for interacting with persons with disabilities.
The two etiquette errors the classmates made:

They pushed Aarav's wheelchair without asking — the wheelchair is part of his personal space and must not be touched or moved without permission.
They spoke to his helper instead of to Aarav — ignoring the person and addressing the companion is disrespectful.

(iii) Two correct etiquette practices the class should follow:

Ask Aarav before offering any help, and never move his wheelchair without his permission — let him decide how and whether to be assisted.
Speak and make eye contact directly with Aarav, treating him as the person to talk to. …

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Q.A new student, Aarav, uses a wheelchair and has joined the physical education class. Some classmates push his wheelchair without asking and speak to his helper instead of to him. The PE teacher decides to teach the class about respectful interaction before the next session.

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