Respectful Disability Language Rule

This rule promotes inclusive and respectful language by identifying and flagging terms that define or label people primarily by their disabilities. The rule aligns with modern accessibility guidelines and helps writers avoid outdated, potentially harmful terminology that can perpetuate stereotypes or reduce individuals to their disabilities. Using respectful, person-first language is crucial for creating content that is inclusive and maintains dignity for all readers.

Examples:

  • ❌ "He is a victim of cerebral palsy" ✅ "He has cerebral palsy"

  • ❌ "She is disabled" ✅ "She is a person with a disability"

  • ❌ "They are handicapped" ✅ "They use a mobility aid"

  • ❌ "Normal people vs. sight-impaired people" ✅ "People with typical vision vs. people with visual impairments"

The rule checks for problematic phrases and words like:

  • Labels that define people by their condition ("an epileptic")
  • Negative or victimizing language ("suffers from", "stricken with")
  • Outdated terminology ("handicapped", "crippled")
  • Comparative terms that imply a standard of "normal" ("able-bodied")

Rule Source

This rule comes from: https://github.com/mesosphere/dcos-docs-site

Rule Definition

extends: existence
message: "Don't use language (such as '%s') that defines people by their disability."
link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/style-guide/a-z-word-list-term-collections/term-collections/accessibility-terms
level: suggestion
ignorecase: true
tokens:
  - a victim of
  - able-bodied
  - affected by
  - an epileptic
  - crippled
  - disabled
  - dumb
  - handicapped
  - handicaps
  - healthy
  - lame
  - maimed
  - missing a limb
  - mute
  - normal
  - sight-impaired
  - stricken with
  - suffers from
  - vision-impaired