Disability-based language to avoid

Avoid the following words and phrases. Some of these terms have antiquated uses in technical contexts, whereas others are more applicable to everyday conversation or when writing about people with disabilities.

note

The following list isn't exhaustive, and language is constantly evolving. If you're unsure about a term or have other language recommendations to add to this list, please contact the Content Quality team in the #unity-style-guide Slack channel.

IT-specific words and phrases

Guideline	Incorrect	Correct
Normal, abnormal Don't use these terms to describe expected, majority, or common states. These terms imply that being outside of the majority is undesirable. Use these terms only when referring to statistical and geometric concepts where the Unity UI or API refers to these terms. For example, "normal maps," "normal texture," and "normal distribution sampling."	Normal Abnormal Normal text	Typical Atypical Regular text
Sane, sanity These terms can also stigmatize mental health issues by implying the opposite case.	Sanity check	Final check Confidence check Quick check
Cripple, crippled This term historically refers to people with limited mobility. When referring to people, use person-first language that describes a specific physical impairment.	It cripples the service. A crippled person	It slows down the service. A person with a motor disability, a person with limited mobility
Dummy This term historically refers to a person who doesn’t speak vocally, with the implication that they are not intelligent. Don't use to refer to placeholders. Instead of referring to a "dummy variable" in statistics, use "indicator variable," design variable," or another alternate term.	Dummy	Placeholder Test Unused Base
Blind As a metaphor, blindness and visual impairment often signify ignorance, lack of understanding, or moral deficiency. Use the term only when referring to the disability itself.	Blind Blind spot Blind writes Blind change, change blindly Blind-sided	Unaware Gap A write operation without a read operation Change without first confirming the value Caught off guard, surprised
Dumb, dumb down This term historically refers to a person who doesn’t speak vocally, with the implication that they are not intelligent.	Dumb Dumb down	Ignorant, irritating Simplify, remove technical jargon
Spastic, spaz, spazzing These terms are derogatory references to the movements associated with spastic cerebral palsy. Do not use to describe software, hardware, or people. Instead, use a more precise term like "inept," "getting angry," or "malfunctioning."	Spastic Spaz Spazzing	Inept, uncoordinated Angry, getting angry Malfunctioning
Fat This term is often used in a negative sense, implying that obesity is a negative state. It's fine to use as an acronym when referring to a file allocation table (FAT).	Fat connection Fat client Trim the fat	High-capacity network Full-featured client Remove unused items, remove unnecessary features
Hands-off, hands-on These terms assume that everyone has hands. Depending on the context, use a more precise expression, such as "automated" instead of "hands-off" or "customizable" instead of "hands-on." When referring to groups or activities, write a clear description.	Hands-off Hands-on Hands-off approach Hands-on management	Automated Customizable Passive approach Proactive management
Healthy, health check These terms privilege the state of being healthy. Use with caution. When describing an action taken for a computer system, use the term "health check" only if it appears in the interface. Instead of figurative uses of "healthy," use more precise terms like "responsive."	Health check Healthy A healthy node	Performance check Responsive, robust A responsive node
Deficient This term historically refers to people with mental disabilities. Don't use to refer to a person. You can use the term to refer to a condition of a computer system.	Deficient	Inadequate Insufficient
Deformed This term refers to a condition in which part of the body does not have the typical or expected shape. Don't use to refer to a person. You can use the term to refer to a condition of a computer system or inanimate object.	A deformed person	A person with a physical disability
Gimp, gimpy These terms historically refer to people with mobility issues. When referring to deficiency in a component, use a more precise, non-figurative term. When referring to people, use person-first language that describes a specific physical impairment. You can use these terms when referring to companies, tools, software packages, and other entities that use the term in their names.	Gimpy Gimp	Malfunctioning A person with a motor disability A person with limited mobility
Retard, retarded This highly offensive term historically refers to people with mental disabilities. Don't use to refer to people. When referring to a system or component being slowed, use "slowed."	The code retards the system.	The code slows the system.

Other problematic words and phrases

Guideline	Incorrect	Correct
Handicap, handicapped These outdated terms imply that the person is the issue, rather than the environment. When referring to places with accommodations for people with disabilities, use the term “accessible” rather than “disabled” or “handicapped.” For example, “an accessible bathroom stall.”	Handicap Handicapped The handicapped	Disability Disabled, accessible People with disabilities
Deaf As figurative language, deafness and hearing impairment often signify ignorance or insensitivity. Refer to deafness only when discussing actual deafness or the Deaf community.	Tone-deaf Fallen on deaf ears	Insensitive Ignored
Insane, crazy, lunatic, mad These terms stigmatize mental health issues when they are used as modifiers for “unbelievable” or in a negative context.	Insane Crazy Lunatic Mad Bonkers	Baffling Unbelievable Outrageous Unexpected Intense Silly Strange
Lame This term historically refers to people with mobility issues.	Lame	Boring Unexciting
Wheelchair-bound, confined to a wheelchair These expressions imply that a wheelchair is a prison, rather than an assistive device that enhances mobility. It can reduce a person’s primary identity to being a wheelchair user.	Wheelchair-bound Confined to a wheelchair	Person who uses a wheelchair Person who uses an accessibility device Wheelchair user
Suffers from, afflicted with These terms implies that a person with a disability is suffering or has a reduced quality of life. Not every person with a disability suffers.	Suffers from Afflicted with	Experiences Has
Hysterical, in hysterics This term has historical roots in outdated diagnoses of psychological disorders associated with having a uterus.	Hysterical In hysterics	Hilarious Emotional Frantic
Barren This term refers to people who are infertile and carries both sexist and ableist connotations.	Barren	Desolate Unfruitful