Research language guidelines

FAST is keen to ensure that the language used in project descriptions held on the database is sensitive to the views of older and disabled people and avoids using terms which some might find offensive.  Below is a table summarising some of the key points, and further information is available here [external link to Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living] and here [external link to Derbyshire Coalition of Disabled People]. 

Language to avoid Preferred language
the disabled disabled person/people
people with disabilities disabled people
handicapped person/invalid disabled person
the blind visually impaired person
the deaf hearing impaired person
suffers from/ a victim of/ is crippled by/ afflicted by person who has/person with
spastic person with cerebral palsy
epileptic person with epilepsy
wheelchair bound wheelchair user
the elderly older people
patient person
mentally ill/mental patient person with mental health impairment