As professional communicators, educators, and human service providers, you are in a unique position to shape the public image of people with disabilities. The words and images you use can create either a straightforward, positive view of people with disabilities or an insensitive portrayal that reinforces common myths and is a form of discrimination. Here is a set of clear guidelines to help you make better choices in terms of language and portrayal. The Guidelines explain preferred terminology and offer suggestions for appropriate ways to describe people with disabilities. The Guidelines reflect input from over 100 national disability organizations and has been reviewed and endorsed by media and disability experts throughout the country.

University of Kansas 
1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Room 4089 Dole
Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7555

  Voice: (785) 864-4095
    TTY: (785) 864-0706
    Fax: (785) 864-5063
  Email: rtcil@ku.edu

Website: 
http://rtcil.org/products/media

The goal of the NCDJ is to provide support and guidance for journalists as they cover people with disabilities.The NCDJ does not advocate a particular point of view; it is concerned with the journalistic principles of accuracy, fairness and diversity in news coverage. Reporters who cover disability issues as a beat and those who may occasionally report on people with disabilities or disability issues may find the center a useful resource for information and the exchange of ideas.

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Arizona State University
555 N. Central Ave., Suite #302 Phoenix, AZ 85004

  Voice: (602) 496-5555
    Fax: (602) 496-7041
  Email: cronkiteinfo@asu.edu

Website: 
http://ncdj.org/

Our mission is to provide services for people with disabilities so that they are able to lead self-directed lives and to educate the general public about disability-related topics in order to promote a barrier free community.

1000 Macon St. Suite 200, 
Fort Worth, TX, 
United States, Texas

  Voice: (214) 630-4796
    TTY: (214) 630-5995
    Fax: (214) 630-6390
  Email: reachdallas@reachcils.org

Website: 
https://www.reachcils.org/resources/disability/disability-rights/guidelines-writing-and-referring-people-disabilities