Our language is continually changing to encompass new ideas and express our evolving perspectives. Sometimes this happens organically and, other times, by deliberate changes we make when we become aware that our habitual language is not in line with our respectful intentions.

Almost all of us want to show respect for the people with whom we live and work. Staying in touch with the latest ADA guidelines and recommendations for disability language is a great way to stay up-to-date in your signage, social media, and written communications. These tips may also help you feel more comfortable speaking with everyone you encounter.

Let’s explore why the words we choose matter so much, the idea of “person-first” language, some basic disability etiquette, and conversational strategies that will help you feel more comfortable and confident that your language is communicating the respect you intend.

The Power of the Words We Choose

In the past, the language surrounding people with disabilities often defined or pre-judged the individual by the nature of their condition. The problem is widespread, impacting the one in five Americans who have a disability.¹ Language that is biased toward these people perpetuates old and negative stereotypes about these individuals.

When we define people by who they are and what they accomplish, rather than the physical or mental situations they face, we empower them to contribute and enrich our communities and our culture. Our socially aware and inclusive language should value people as parents, neighbors, coworkers, teachers, and friends.

Language Can Be an Obstacle

One negative example is the word “handicapped.” This word is no longer considered a respectful term to apply to a person. A handicap is an obstacle that blocks, limits, or restrains a person, and the word should not be used as an identifier for a person or group. A disability, on the other hand, is a condition a person may have that is caused by trauma, genetics, or disease.

So, instead of saying “Roberta is a handicapped artist,” we would say “Roberta is an artist who has a disability.” Or we could simply say “Roberta is an artist” in any case where Roberta’s disability is not relevant to the topic at hand.

There is even an untrue story about the origin of the term “handicapped” that links it to being a person who holds out their cap for charity. So, while official documentation and signage are slowly being updated, removing this word from your business and personal vocabulary may be a good first step in deliberately changing your language.

What Is “People-First” Language?

Most of us have experienced demeaning language at one time or another. Labeling someone based on outward appearance or unique physical attributes is known to be hurtful and bullying, and we can empathize with others who face this kind of biased and limiting language on a daily basis.

People are individuals and deserve to be mentioned before or instead of their possible disabilities. Using disability language that puts the people first, then mentioning their disabilities when appropriate, is the preferred and recommended language according to ADA guidelines and documents.²

Some examples of person-first language include saying:

• “A child with autism” instead of “an autistic child”
• “A person who is blind” rather than “a blind person”
• “A teenager with a learning disability” in contrast to “a special-needs student”
• “A person who is disabled or uses a wheelchair” instead of “a handicapped person”
• “Customers with limited mobility” versus “disabled customers”

Another way to put the person first is to ask for their preferred terms and listen to their personal preferences regarding how they refer to themselves or want to be addressed. Every person’s past history and current perspective is unique, and which phrases are perceived as respectful and inclusive language varies accordingly.

Words and Phrases that May Be Offensive

Disability language and habits that may be offensive to some individuals:

• Focusing on or mentioning the disability when it is not relevant to the topic or the situation.
• Discussing or raising the expectation that all people with disabilities must be heroic, brave, or inspiring.
• Using dramatic words to describe disabilities, including phrases like “suffers from,” “afflicted with,” “confined to,” “crippled by,” or “victim of.”
• Lumping together groups defined only by a disability; for example, “the deaf” or “the autistic.”
• The use of made-up or possibly patronizing phrases such as “differently abled” or “physically inconvenienced.”

So, What Is the Right Thing to Say to a Person with a Disability?

Talk to people who have disabilities as an active listener and with respect, which is also good advice for most conversations. There is no reason to twist and contort your language or avoid common phrases like “Did you see” or “Did you hear” or “Let’s run to the store” in the company of these individuals. Disability etiquette is about valuing people for who they are, rather than focusing on the conditions they have.

What is helpful when speaking to people with low vision, blindness, or difficulty hearing is to change your language to replace the visual or auditory clues they may miss. For example, to a person with blindness, instead of saying “The door is right over there,” say “It is the second door on your right, as you continue down the hall.”

Unfortunately, when we are unsure how to speak to someone without offending them, there is a tendency to avoid contact. This is the opposite of the intention. An essential part of good communication is not fearing a well-intentioned mistake. All participants in a conversation have a responsibility to help each other connect. Choose words that you feel comfortable with and be open to honest feedback from those with whom you speak. These tips are equally helpful in almost all social encounters.

Respecting the Needs of People with Disabilities

There are some other situations where you might wonder about the etiquette of offering assistance or engaging with people who have limited mobility or a disability. Your good intentions can be more clearly understood when you:³

• Offer assistance, wait for a response, and follow requests or instructions from the other person. Avoid physically assisting them without their agreement, and follow their specific instructions when doing so.
• If someone’s speaking voice is difficult for you to understand, resist the temptation to pretend that you do. Instead, ask them to repeat themselves or to write down the words you do not understand.
• Schedule events and meetings with the needs of all attendees in mind. Make sure the event area is accessible and that there are adequate breaks scheduled and accessible restrooms. Provide interpreters as needed, and offer information in both visual and audio formats.
• Ask about and offer accommodations for anyone and everyone who is attending your event or visiting your business and home, regardless of whether they have a visually discernible disability or not. By doing so, you make it easy for people to ask for what they need to be safe and comfortable.
• Remember that mobility devices such as wheelchairs are part of someone’s personal space. Avoid grabbing a wheelchair without asking, leaning on it, or otherwise infringing on a person’s freedom of movement without asking.
• Service animals are highly trained to focus on their work. Avoid distracting them and do not speak to the animals, offer them food, or pet them without the person’s permission.
• Address people directly and at eye level when possible. Even if they have a caregiver or interpreter, make eye contact and speak to them personally. Sitting or crouching to speak to a person who uses a wheelchair will help prevent neck strain and make it easier to see eye to eye.

Making Yourself More Accessible

Making these kinds of intentional changes in how you communicate and engage with people who have disabilities is a benefit for you as well. You literally become more accessible and easier to talk to, work with, and get to know. You will meet people with unique perspectives and truly engage them as neighbors, friends, and regular customers.

Learning more about inclusive language and the ADA guidelines for both physical accessibility and creating a welcoming environment for those with disabilities is a personally rewarding action that also makes the lives of those around you better. At ADA Solutions, Inc., we are committed to helping individuals, nonprofits, and businesses become fully accessible and fully engaged in our communities. Contact us today to learn more about this topic and how to evaluate your home, business, or facility for ADA-accessibility improvements.

Sources:

1. https://tcdd.texas.gov/resources/people-first-language/
2. https://adata.org/factsheet/ADANN-writing
3. http://nwadacenter.org/factsheet/respectful-interactions-disability-language-and-etiquette

Since the 1900s, the way in which disability is perceived and treated has changed dramatically. For example, sidewalk truncated domes are now standard in cities, and those with disabilities now enjoy inclusive workplaces and communities. Join us as we take a look back at the history of disability rights.

The 1900s

The early 19^th century saw new attempts at the resolution of disability with asylums and segregated schools. During this time, many institutions were established in both Europe and North America for individuals with blindness, deafness, and other physical and intellectual disabilities.

Disabilities were also better able to be treated during this time, thanks to the development of the differential diagnosis. New methods of education and interventions for treatment were also devised during this century.

1918 was the year that Congress passed a rehabilitation program for soldiers, due to the large numbers of WW1 veterans who returned from the war disabled. The rehabilitation program was the first of its kind. One year later, the Ohio Society for Crippled Children, which would become the Easter Seals organization, was founded.

The 1920s

The 1920s would see contrasting developments occurring in the realm of disability rights. In 1925, Samuel Orton began an extensive study of dyslexia, based on his hypothesis that the condition might be neurological and not visual.

An unfortunate development occurred in 1925 when it was ruled by the Supreme Court that the compulsory sterilization of those with mental illness was constitutional, albeit under careful state safeguards. It may come as a great surprise to many that this ruling has yet to be overturned.

In 1925, the respiratory muscle paralysis experienced by those with polio would soon be able to be treated with that year’s invention of the iron lung, which provided artificial respiration.

The 1930s

In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who suffered from polio, would become America’s 32nd president. Soon after, he would help to found the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, which is now known as the March of Dimes. The California Council for the Blind would be formed in 1934 and, the next year, Roosevelt would sign the Social Security Act, which would begin providing permanent assistance to disabled adults.

The 1940s

Rosemary Kennedy would undergo a failed lobotomy in 1941, after which she would be moved to a Wisconsin school for exceptional children. Rosemary’s sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver would later found the Special Olympics in her honor.

New York City’s Dr. Howard A. Rusk would found the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in 1948. His theories would become the basis for all types of rehabilitation medicine and address the social, psychological, and emotional aspects of living with disabilities.

The 1950s

This decade would see the beginning of the “barrier-free movement” by a combined force of disabled veterans and individuals, along with organizations such as the National Easter Seals Society and the Veterans Administration. As a result of their combined efforts, national standards for barrier-free buildings and safer walkways with truncated domes would eventually be developed.

Parents of children with what was then referred to as mental retardation would begin the work of changing public perception of the condition with the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC). The organization would ensure that all diagnosed with mental retardation would receive the support they needed to thrive in all American communities.

The 1960s

The 1960s would prove to be a dynamic and intense time for the disabled. The accessibility and usability of buildings would be in the spotlight in 1961 when the first accessibility standard would be published. By 1973, accessibility legislation would be adopted by 49 states.

A young Ed Roberts, who suffered from polio, was denied admission into the University of California, Berkeley in 1962. He would fight this decision and become the first person to be enrolled. The efforts of Roberts and other disabled students would result in the formation of the Independent Living Movement and the establishment of the first Center for Independent Living.

In 1963, an act would pass that would see money set aside for the development of councils, protection, advocacy, and university centers for all with disabilities. Two years later, Medicaid would be created. The Architectural Barriers act of 1968 would mandate that all buildings be made accessible to those with disabilities.

The 1970s

Wheelchair-bound Judy Heumann would file and settle a lawsuit in 1971 because of being denied a teaching license by New York City’s Board of Education. She would then become an activist and later found the Independent Living Movement with Ed Roberts. Also that year, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 would make it illegal for any federally funded public institution to discriminate based on disability.

In 1974, the first convention for the national organization People First would be held in Oregon. That same year, the last law which allowed police to arrest and place in jail anyone demonstrating an apparent disability, also called an “ugly law,” was repealed in Chicago.

The final years of the 70s would see protests by disability demonstrators, the development of the Education Fest for disabled Hispanic children, and the establishment of the National Council on Disability.

The 1980s

The first three years of the 1980s would include the Department of Justice being given the power to sue any residential or treatment institutions that violated the rights of disabled persons in their care.

Also at this time, global equality and full participation of disabled persons would be encouraged by the UN, the National Organization on Disability would be founded, and a national campaign would begin to make public transportation accessible. This would lead to accessible housing being mandated and a new act that would prohibit air carriers from discrimination against disability.

The 1990s

President George H. W. Bush would sign the Americans with Disabilities Act into law in 1990. It would bring together all disability supporters, advocates, and organizations together for the benefit of disabled persons. It would also mandate the use of ADA truncated domes for easy detection of approach to hazardous locations.

1996 would see the Telecommunications Act being passed. The act would require all telecommunication devices to be equipped with accessibility features. In 1998, a federal judge would rule that professional golfer Casey Martin had the right to use a golf cart in PGA Tournaments due to his rare circulatory disorder.

In 1999,  the availability of Medicare and Medicaid for disabled beneficiaries would be expanded by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvements Act.  It would also be ruled that individuals have the right to receive benefits, and that it would be illegal discrimination to fail to find community-based placements for qualifying individuals with disabilities.

The 2000s

2001 saw detectable warnings for curb cuts becoming officially required. The New Freedom Commission on Mental Health would be established in 2002. The Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act would authorize funding and education for its athletes. California voters would pass Proposition 63, which would provide a wide range of services for those with severe mental illness.

In 2005, Terri Schiavo, who was in an irreversible persistent vegetative state for seven years prior, would have her feeding tube ordered removed and ultimately pass away that year. In 2006, mental health parity would be achieved with the passing of Timothy’s Law.

2006 to 2010 saw the extension of the Americans with Disabilities Act to include those in state prisons and saw mental health facilities being held accountable under Jonathan’s Law. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act would require free and appropriate education for all students with disabilities, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act would become law. The Christopher and Dana Reeves Paralysis Act would also become law, and the reference “intellectual disability” would replace “mental retardation.”

2011’s passing of the new Americans with Disabilities Act would greatly expand requirements for accessibility and set new standards for mobility devices, ticket sales, and service animals, to name a very few. Many lawsuits and protests in the following years would lead to further confirmation, expansion, and enforcement of rights for those with disabilities that continue to this day.

Currently

ADA Solutions is a leading manufacturer of truncated dome mats and other tactile warning surface tiles. Call 1-800-372-0519 to learn more about the benefits of our competitively priced products and request your free quote.

If you’re looking to improve your public access system, look no further than the most recent guidelines. The Americans with Disabilities Act, which became a law in 1990, covers everything from workplace discrimination to web usability, to the accessibility of public access points. Titles II and III, which were originally published in 1991, are collectively known as the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. If you intend on making improvements in 2020, here are some requirements to consider.

Public access systems owned by state and local government agencies, commercial facilities, and operators of public accommodations must be ADA-compliant. The law applies to newly designed facilities, newly constructed facilities, and those that have been altered after the latest rules went into effect.

To be compliant with these standards, a facility must be:

• Readily accessible to individuals with disabilities
• Usable by individuals with disabilities.

What Is Required and Where?

Here is what to improve if you’re looking to update your public access system:

• Curb Ramps: Updates as recently as 2016 make state and local governments fully responsible for how they build curbs. These guidelines call for a slope of no more than 8.33% and for the ramp to be at least 36 inches wide.¹ Any transition must be level with the street, walkway, or gutter. A curb ramp must be placed anywhere a sidewalk or pedestrian path touches a curb that transitions into a roadway.
• Sidewalks: Any sidewalk must have a clear width of 36 inches minimum. However, if a given section extends for 24 inches, this can be reduced to 32 inches, but reduced width areas must be separated by 48- x 36-inch (minimum) segments. At least one accessible route must be available from a public street, accessible parking area, or passenger loading zone. Common violations include incorrect or missing signs at entrances or exits, steep slopes, a lack of accessible bathroom stalls, and non-compliant stairways, parking spaces, and service counters.²

The latest guidelines consider the fact people with disabilities may not notice changes in walking surfaces. This includes where a sidewalk transitions into a busy street with vehicular traffic or where an elevated ramp begins, which stresses the need for:

• Detectable Warning Surfaces: These are surfaces placed on or embedded in concrete that feature truncated domes. Each dome must meet specific guidelines in terms of height, width, and placement in relation to other domes. The purpose of this is to create an audible surface that makes a sound when a person using a walking stick or wheelchair passes over it. Detectable warning surfaces are bright in color to provide contrast with surrounding surfaces. Their tactile nature enables people to feel the truncated domes below their feet (more on tactile warning surfaces by ADA Solutions, Inc. later).

Requirements are in place for specific types of facilities. Here is a look at ADA requirements to consider when making improvements to:

• Housing at Places of Education: Kitchens must have a turning space of at least 36 inches wide, while multi-bedroom housing units with accessible sleeping rooms must have an accessible route through the unit.
• Assembly Areas: Horizontally dispersed wheelchair spaces and companion seats must be available in stadiums, arenas, and grandstands on all levels near a field of play or performance area. In stadium-style movie theaters, they must be on a riser or cross-aisle within the rear 60% of seats.³
• Medical Care Facilities: Sufficient clear floor space should be available at a parallel approach to the side of a bed. Turning space should be provided in toilet and bathing rooms, as well. Doors in such rooms must not impose on the clear floor space when open unless they’re not for common use or public use.
• Detection/Correctional Facilities: At least 3% of cells, and no fewer than one cell, in a facility must have accessible mobility features, including adequate turning space, compliant benches, and clear floor space near a bed and in toilet and bathing facilities.⁴
• Primary Function Areas: Areas within a facility containing a major activity, such as bank tellers, telephones, restrooms, drinking fountains, and employee areas, must have an accessible path of travel.

In fact, ADA requirements affect any business or organization that accommodates the public, including stores, restaurants, public restrooms, parks, parking garages, bus stations, and train/rail/subway stations; as well as airports, hotels/motels/resorts, and apartment/rental properties.

In addition to detectable warning surfaces and clear accessibility paths, you want to ensure the following are ADA-compliant:

• Number of accessible parking spaces: There must be at least one accessible parking space in a parking facility of up to 25 total spaces, two in a 26 to 25 space lot, and 2% of the total in a parking facility with 501 to 1,000 spaces.
• Accessible doors/gates: Doors must have a clear width of at least 32 inches, measured with the door open 90 degrees, and openings more than 24 inches deep must provide at least 36 inches of clear space with no projections lower than 34 inches high.
• Handles: A handle, latch, or lock on a door or gate must be between 34 and 48 inches high from the floor or ground. Similarly, railings, handrails, and guards can not exceed 34 inches above the ground or a deck surface.
• Ramp rails: Handrails are also required on ramp runs that rise more than 6 inches; they should be provided on both sides of ramps and stairs. The top gripping surface must be between 34 and 38 inches high at all points above a walking or ramp surface.
• Benches: Bench seats must be at least 42 inches long and from 20 to 24 inches deep, with proper back support; adequate clear floor or ground space must be positioned at the end of the bench seat and parallel to the bench’s short axis.⁶

Improve Your Public Access System with ADA Products

At ADA Solutions, Inc., we can help your facility meet ADA requirements. We provide a variety of warning surfaces that improve public access and mobility for visually impaired or otherwise disabled persons. Our Cast-in-Place replaceable panels introduced in 2006 are designed for insertion into fresh concrete, while our Surface Applied detectable warning surfaces can be retrofit onto an existing concrete surface or new construction.

We also offer a heavy-duty Cast-in-Place panel with linear embedment ribs. In addition, our radius system accommodates turns in walking surfaces; they can accommodate a variety of radius conditions and be custom cut to fit applications when necessary. We are also glad to offer solutions for transit facilities, including Heavy Duty Cast-in-Place Tactile, Staggered Dome Surface Applied Tactile, In-Line Surface Applied Tactile, and Staggered Dome Cast-in-Place Tactile.

Most of our products are made of a durable fiberglass reinforced composite material that’s resistant to UV fade and allows your facility to address compliance with the latest ADA standards. Cast iron detectable warning surfaces are also available. Tactile feedback improves public access, mobility, and safety for all pedestrians. Our products meet all the dimensional requirements and specifications outlined in the latest guidelines.

To learn more about how to improve your public access system in 2020 or receive a free quote, call ADA Solutions, Inc. at (800) 372-0519 to speak to a detectable warning expert.

Sources:

1. https://adatile.com/govt-regs/
2. https://adatile.com/california-ada-requirements/
3. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm#sec80922
4. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm#assemblyareas
5. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm#assemblyareas
6. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm