{"id":45312,"date":"2022-07-20T20:34:14","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T19:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/?post_type=section&#038;p=45312"},"modified":"2023-12-28T12:32:55","modified_gmt":"2023-12-28T12:32:55","slug":"disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors","status":"publish","type":"section","link":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/","title":{"rendered":"Ableist Language &#8211; Disability Metaphors &#8211; Disability Studies"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"tts_content_wrapper_2\" >\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#What_is_Ableist_Language\" title=\"What is Ableist Language?\">What is Ableist Language?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#Examples_of_Ableist_Language\" title=\"Examples of Ableist Language\">Examples of Ableist Language<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#What_is_Disability_Studies\" title=\"What is Disability Studies?\">What is Disability Studies?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#9_Strategies_for_Avoiding_Ableist_Language\" title=\"9 Strategies for Avoiding Ableist Language\">9 Strategies for Avoiding Ableist Language<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#1_Use_Appropriate_Terminology\" title=\"1. Use Appropriate Terminology\">1. Use Appropriate Terminology<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#2_Person-First_Versus_Identity-First_Language\" title=\"2. Person-First Versus Identity-First Language\">2. Person-First Versus Identity-First Language<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#3_Dont_Praise_or_Spotlight_Disability\" title=\"3. Don\u2019t Praise or Spotlight Disability\">3. Don\u2019t Praise or Spotlight Disability<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#4_Consider_Accessibility\" title=\"4. Consider Accessibility\">4. Consider Accessibility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#5_Provide_Alt-text\" title=\"5. Provide Alt-text\">5. Provide Alt-text<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#6_Provide_Closed_Captioning\" title=\"6. Provide Closed Captioning\">6. Provide Closed Captioning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#7_Consider_Color_Scheme_Font_and_Design_Choices\" title=\"7. Consider Color Scheme, Font, and Design Choices\">7. Consider Color Scheme, Font, and Design Choices<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#8_Consider_Content_Warnings\" title=\"8. Consider Content Warnings\">8. Consider Content Warnings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#9_Be_Responsive_to_Feedback_and_Revision\" title=\"9. Be Responsive to Feedback and Revision\">9. Be Responsive to Feedback and Revision<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/disability-studies-abelist-language-inappropriate-disability-metaphors\/#Further_Reading\" title=\"Further Reading\">Further Reading<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-ableist-language\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Ableist_Language\"><\/span>What is Ableist Language?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every time you write, whether it is an email, an <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/\">argument<\/a> for class, or a social media post, you shape the culture around disability, for better or for worse. Your language reflects your perspectives on disability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One way that our culture marginalizes and excludes those with disabilities is by defining \u201cnormal\u201d as \u201cable-bodied.\u201d Such a definition suggests that those with disabilities are \u201cabnormal,\u201d even though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncbddd\/disabilityandhealth\/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html\" class=\"broken_link\" rel=\"nofollow\">1 in 4 Americans<\/a> has a disability and the vast majority of people will experience some temporary or short-term disability over the course of their lifetime (connected with aging, illness, or injury). By privileging those who are able-bodied over those who aren\u2019t, our culture is ableist. In order to not reflect or reinforce this ableism, it is important that your writing recognizes that disability is a normal part of the human experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Related Concepts: <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/audience\/\">Audience<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/research\/research-methods\/textual-methods\/literary-criticism\/critical-disability-studies\/\">Critical Disability Studies<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/information-literacy-perspectives-practices\/empathetic-information-literacy\/\">Emphatic Information Literacy<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/diction\/inclusive-language\/\">Inclusive Language<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-reasoning\/\">Rhetorical Reasoning<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/design\/universal-design\/\">Universal Design<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/design\/universal-design\/usability\/\">Usability<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-examples-of-ableist-language\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Examples_of_Ableist_Language\"><\/span>Examples of Ableist Language<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ableist language can include using metaphors or terms that <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/diction\/\">connote<\/a> disability negatively or that may be considered outdated. Ableist language does harmful cultural work against those with disabilities and should always be avoided. Below are some common examples of disability-related metaphors as well as terms that are negatively connotated. (Here&#8217;s a more thorough list is available <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autistichoya.com\/p\/ableist-words-and-terms-to-avoid.html\">here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Disability Metaphors to Avoid<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Disability Terms to Avoid<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>dragging one\u2019s feet<\/td><td>wheelchair-bound\/confined to a wheelchair<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>turn a deaf ear to<\/td><td>suffers from\/victim of<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>turn a blind eye\/blinded to\/blind-side\/blindspot&nbsp;<\/td><td>crippled\/crippled by<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>crazy\/insane\/lunatic\/maniac\/nuts\/psycho<\/td><td>invalid<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>dumb\/lame\/idiot\/stupid\/moronic<\/td><td>Handicapped\/handicapable\/differently abled\/special<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Examples of Inappropriate Disability Metaphors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/clarity\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"755\" src=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/abelist-lang-1024x755.jpg\" alt=\"Example of Meanspirited, abelist language. The sign reads: Shoping carts are not intended to be used as walkers.\" class=\"wp-image-45340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/abelist-lang-1024x755.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/abelist-lang-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/abelist-lang-768x566.jpg 768w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/abelist-lang-1536x1132.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/abelist-lang.jpg 1834w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Example of a discriminatory <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/text-composition\/\">message<\/a> that lacks <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/information-literacy-perspectives-practices\/empathetic-information-literacy\/\">information empathy<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/clarity\/\">clarity<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/audience\/\">audience awareness<\/a> given the <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/audience\/\">audience<\/a> for the store is primary elderly folks. Photo Credit: Moxley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-disability-studies\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Disability_Studies\"><\/span>What is Disability Studies?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Disability Studies is a field that analyzes treatments of disabilities and those with disabilities in our society. One of the main tenets of disability studies is that aspects of our society marginalize disabled individuals and amplify the difficulties they face. One of those aspects can be what and how we write, whether it is the phrases and metaphors we use or the way we envision who our audience is. Every time we write, whether it is an argument for class, letter to the editor of a local paper, or a social media post, we shape the culture around disability, for better or for worse. This article will give you tips to shape it for the better.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two main considerations for how you can do this. First, you can make what you write <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/inclusive-language\/\">inclusive<\/a> by not casting disability as \u201cless than,\u201d \u201cabnormal,\u201d or negative. Second, you can make what you write accessible to those with disabilities in order to expand your audience and work towards more access and equity for those with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-strategies-for-avoiding-ableist-language\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Strategies_for_Avoiding_Ableist_Language\"><\/span>9 Strategies for Avoiding Ableist Language<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-use-appropriate-terminology\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Use_Appropriate_Terminology\"><\/span>1. <strong>Use Appropriate Terminology<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When writing about a specific disability, it\u2019s important to double-check any terms you may have encountered previously, as terms and their meanings can change over time. A great approach is simply to note how people with that disability refer to themselves, especially in whatever sources you may be using in your writing. It is crucial to use whatever term an individual or community prefers and never to \u201cdiagnose\u201d or assign your own term or label. Additionally, the National Center on Disability and Journalism has a great style guide on a <a href=\"https:\/\/ncdj.org\/style-guide\/\">list of terms<\/a> and their appropriateness. If it is necessary for you to use a term that is historic or has negative associations, consider using quotation marks to indicate that you are treating the word in a particular way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-person-first-versus-identity-first-language\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Person-First_Versus_Identity-First_Language\"><\/span>2. <strong>Person-First Versus Identity-First Language<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond what language to avoid, disability communities have also explored what language best captures their experiences and how they want to be described. One option is<em> person-first language<\/em>, which refers to individuals with disabilities as people first and \u201cwith disabilities\u201d second, such as a \u201cperson in a wheelchair\u201d or a \u201cperson with dementia.\u201d This option emphasizes everyone\u2019s shared human identity. Another option is <em>identity-first language<\/em>, which foregrounds a specific identity connected to disability, such as \u201cDeaf\u201d or \u201cAutistic.\u201d This option emphasizes how disability can be a core component of someone\u2019s identity. Currently, many disabled people prefer identity-first language, but some disability communities prefer person-first still, and within some communities preference is split, so (as with terminology above) the best approach is to use whatever term an individual or community prefers. If you find that preference is mixed within a community, you can acknowledge this in your writing through a foot- or endnote.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-don-t-praise-or-spotlight-disability\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Dont_Praise_or_Spotlight_Disability\"><\/span>3. <strong>Don\u2019t Praise or Spotlight Disability<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When someone with a disability is treated differently than an able-bodied person, that\u2019s also ableist. Sometimes this happens when disabled individuals are praised for things in ways that an able-bodied person would not be. For instance, calling people with disabilities \u201cbrave\u201d for doing everyday tasks or \u201cinspiring\u201d for overcoming obstacles reveals the negative assumptions our culture has (and it also participates in what disability studies calls \u201cinspiration porn,\u201d when disability narratives are presented primarily to make able-bodied people feel good). Additionally, don\u2019t draw attention to someone\u2019s disability unless it is directly relevant to the topic at hand. Spotlighting disabilities that are not relevant to a story or argument reinforces the idea that those with disabilities are not the \u201cnorm.\u201d This principle is good for writing in general\u2013include details that are relevant and omit ones that aren\u2019t, whether they are about someone\u2019s disability, racial\/ethnic identity, religion, etc.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-consider-accessibility\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Consider_Accessibility\"><\/span>4. <strong>Consider Accessibility<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just as our culture defines \u201cnormal\u201d as \u201cable-bodied,\u201d so it conditions us to imagine\u2013implicitly or explicitly\u2013an audience that is exclusively able-bodied. We are all, even those of us with disabilities, conditioned to write with such an audience in mind, but such conditioning erases those with disabilities from our imagined audiences. To best include disabled individuals in your audience, you must make your writing accessible to them. All readers need their content to fit within specific parameters in order to be legible. When your reader is your professor, they will tell you what those parameters are, including any of the accessibility options listed below. But if your writing will have a broader audience than just one professor\u2013especially a public audience where you do not know precisely who will encounter it\u2013it is crucial that you imagine the broadest possible audience, including those with disabilities. In those cases, covering as many aspects of accessibility as you can is extremely important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-provide-alt-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Provide_Alt-text\"><\/span>5. <strong>Provide Alt-text<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Alt-text is a description of visual material that can be read by screen readers, a technology that translates visual materials into audio description. All images included in a presentation, document, or social media post (including PDFs) should include alt-text. When crafting your description, describing every aspect of the image may not be necessary, so focus instead on what is meaningful or important. For instance, if the image is a toddler standing in a kitchen, it is probably more important that you describe her facial expressions (happy or angry or curious or crying) than the color of the cabinets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/accessibility.umn.edu\/what-you-can-do\/start-7-core-skills\/alternative-text\">Alt-text tips, including Word and Google<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/publish.illinois.edu\/accessibility-training\/2019\/11\/05\/best-practices-for-social-media-accessibility\/\">Alt-text tips for social media<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"741\" src=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Screen-Shot-2023-03-06-at-7.40.56-AM-1024x741.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-53008\" srcset=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Screen-Shot-2023-03-06-at-7.40.56-AM-1024x741.png 1024w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Screen-Shot-2023-03-06-at-7.40.56-AM-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Screen-Shot-2023-03-06-at-7.40.56-AM-768x556.png 768w, https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Screen-Shot-2023-03-06-at-7.40.56-AM.png 1482w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: Moxley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-provide-closed-captioning\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Provide_Closed_Captioning\"><\/span><strong>6. Provide Closed Captioning<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are doing a <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/presentations\/\">presentation<\/a> with an aural or audio component, such as on Zoom, Prezi, or Canva, be sure to enable closed captioning so that the aural components are translated into written text. If the presentation is recorded and available for later use, edit the closed captioning to be sure it is accurate, as auto-generated results often don\u2019t catch everything perfectly. While closed captioning is used by those who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing, many more individuals use it if they prefer not to listen to the material, so closed captioning is key to making your work accessible to as wide an audience as possible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QCY0kj4f0GM\">Edit YouTube closed captioning<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Edit Zoom closed captioning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-consider-color-scheme-font-and-design-choices\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Consider_Color_Scheme_Font_and_Design_Choices\"><\/span>7. <strong>Consider Color Scheme, Font, and Design Choices<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all writing will have the option to choose color schemes or fonts, especially if you must adhere to certain parameters (such as in <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/citation\/mla-style\/mla-format\/\">MLA formatting<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/citation\/apa-7th-edition\/apa-format\/\">APA formatting<\/a>, or branding for a certain organization). However, if you have flexibility regarding these areas, you should consider which color schemes and fonts will make your writing the most accessible. Studies show that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cs.cmu.edu\/~jbigham\/pubs\/pdfs\/2017\/colors.pdf\">warmer background colors<\/a> (like creme, peach, orange, yellow) with a strongly contrasting text color have higher readability rates for those with and without dyslexia. Moreover, <a href=\"http:\/\/dyslexiahelp.umich.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/good_fonts_for_dyslexia_study.pdf\">some sans serif and roman fonts<\/a> (like Helvetica, Courier, Arial) rather than serif and italic ones increase readability as well. Lastly, in making design choices, consider <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/diction\/concrete-language-sensory-language\/\">sensory-friendly <\/a>or low-sensory options rather than sensory-heavy approaches (like flashing images, abrupt transitions, and loud sounds).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-consider-content-warnings\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Consider_Content_Warnings\"><\/span>8. <strong>Consider Content Warnings<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Content warnings are not exclusively for the disability community but they are a great way to make your work inclusive. If your goal is to meaningfully convey your material to your audience, it\u2019s important that your audience is prepared to receive it. Content warnings can help them navigate if and when they are ready to engage with your writing. Content warnings are often marked at the very beginning by \u201cCW:\u201d and then a list of topics the content covers. Some common topics for a content warning include rape, violence and trauma, child loss, self-harm or suicide, death, cancer, racial slurs, homophobic or transphobic language, and pornographic material.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-be-responsive-to-feedback-and-revision\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Be_Responsive_to_Feedback_and_Revision\"><\/span>9. Be Responsive to Feedback and Revision<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since we live in a culture that is ableist, ableism shapes our thinking and writing, even when we are not conscious of it. Also, writing about disability can be complex, so it may not always be obvious how to best handle a situation, and you may make a misstep. These tenets are true for those of us with and without disabilities, though often those with disabilities recognize ableism more readily because of their own disability experiences. Therefore, it is important to listen to and be responsive if someone, especially someone with a disability, provides specific feedback and suggests revisions regarding the inclusivity and accessibility of your work. It is equally important that you speak up if you find a peer\u2019s work not as inclusive or accessible as it could be. Together, they way that we write can shape a better culture around disability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-further-reading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Further_Reading\"><\/span>Further Reading<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCritical Disability Studies,\u201d <em>Writing Commons<\/em>, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/research\/research-methods\/textual-methods\/literary-criticism\/critical-disability-studies\/\">https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/research\/research-methods\/textual-methods\/literary-criticism\/critical-disability-studies\/<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The Disability Studies Reader<\/em>, edited by Lennard J. Davis, Taylor &amp; Francis Group, 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Goodley, Dan. <em>Disability Studies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction<\/em>. 2nd ed., SAGE, 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Handbook of Disability Studies<\/em>, edited by Gary L. Albrecht, et al., SAGE, 2001.<em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Siebers, Tobin. <em>Disability Theory. <\/em>University of Michigan Press, 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Snyder, Sharon L, et al., <em>Disability Studies: Enabling the Humanities. <\/em>Modern Language Association of America, 2002.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":62250,"parent":393,"menu_order":0,"template":"","tags":[],"chapters":[1981,2480],"class_list":["post-45312","section","type-section","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","chapters-diction","chapters-inclusive-language"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/45312","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/section"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":92,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/45312\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62253,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/45312\/revisions\/62253"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45312"},{"taxonomy":"chapters","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapters?post=45312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}