Sprachgebrauch zum Thema Behinderung - Language usage when addressing disability

Addressing disability, drawing attention to barriers in our environment and breaking down prejudices are basically positive initiatives. But how to talk about disability, what terms and phrases to use, can by no means be neglected.This is not about splitting hair, nor to give the impression that people with disabilities are particularly sensitive or "fussy" when there is talk about disability. In the same way as the body language, also terms and formulations used mirror our perception of other people.

The aim is to raise awareness on correctly addressing disability and the people affected.This becomes particularly important when "opinion makers", the media, take up the topic of disability: If there is always talk of "the disabled" instead of the "people with disabilities", the idea arises, that there is a very special (marginal) group, which is surrounded by "normal people".

The linguistic difference may seem small. Nevertheless, it is decisive for the view of disability. If our commonality, namely "being humans" is in the foreground, the readers or listeners can identify with the people affected. In such case, they tend a lot less to prejudice or discrimination.

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