Health is not a static, fixed state — it exists on a spectrum, determined by many factors. How disabilities and illnesses are discussed has changed significantly over time, and careful media coverage will take into account that everyone’s experiences and perceptions of those experiences are different, and there is no one “standard” for health.
This section of the Language, Please style guidance aims to provide tools for avoiding common pitfalls and stereotypes when discussing disabilities and illnesses.
This resource was informed by questions and discussions from our own newsrooms. It is a living document that will update and expand over time. It is not meant to be comprehensive or the definitive arbiter of language “rules” but instead aims to give context and inform thoughtful decision-making. Have a suggestion for an update, change, or addition? Please get in touch.
How to use: Browse the whole section or search for the term you need guidance on; click into any term for in-depth context, additional resources, and related terms.
Additional resources:
- ADA National Network: Guidance for Writing About People with Disabilities
- Carter Center Journalism Resource Guide on Behavioral Health
- Center for Disability Rights: Disability Writing & Journalism Guidelines
- Conscious Style Guide
- Disability Is Natural: People-First Language Articles
- Kaiser Family Foundation HIV/AIDS Reporting Manual
- National Center on Disability and Journalism Disability Language Style Guide
neurodivergent
Neurodivergent is an umbrella term to refer to neurological minorities, including people with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, Tourette’s syndrome, and tics. The opposite term is “neurotypical.” Equating neurotypicality to being “normal” or having a “healthy” brain can reinforce misleading assumptions and stigma about neurodivergence.
neurodiversity
Neurodiversity refers to the presence of many different types of minds throughout the human race, all of which have valuable characteristics. The term aims to categorize autism, ADHD, and other developmental conditions as naturally occurring traits in the human population rather than pathologies to be “cured.” A group or population can be neurodiverse, but a single person cannot, and the term generally isn’t used in a person-first way (e.g., “a person with neurodiversity”). An individual could be referred to as a neurominority or neurologically marginalized, or described with their diagnosis; some also call themselves “neurodivergent.”
opioids, opioid epidemic
Opioids are a broad class of drugs that include natural opioids like morphine; semi-synthetic opioids such as heroin, oxycodone, and hydrocodone; and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil. The opioid epidemic began in the 1990s when pharmaceutical companies started aggressively marketing highly addictive opioids. It is now the biggest drug epidemic in US history. Much media coverage of the opioid epidemic has focused on its effects on rural, white communities, but in 2020, fatal drug overdoses of Black Americans surpassed those of white Americans for the first time since 1999. Racism within health care settings continues to pose major barriers — white Americans have better access to opioid use disorder treatment. Careful coverage of opioids and the epidemic will stay away from stigmatizing drug use or pain management techniques, avoid stereotypes of who is at risk of an opioid use disorder or how it might manifest, account for the role of industry and deceptive marketing practices in creating conditions for addiction, and treat addiction like any other disease rather than blaming the individual. It’s important to note that over-focusing on negative outcomes like addiction and death, without offering greater context and ideas for solutions, can contribute to harmful stereotypes and preclude hope.
palliative care
Palliative care is a type of medical treatment focused on relieving symptoms and pain and managing a serious illness. It is distinct from hospice care in that it can be given at any point within an illness, whereas hospice care is only provided as end-of-life care.
patient
A patient is a person in a specific medical situation. It is not always an accurate term for any person in any medical condition. It’s also important to remember that not every person who has a disability or illness is also currently a patient.
person-first language
Person-first language refers to the practice of leading with the individual rather than their condition, such as writing “person with a disability” instead of “disabled person.” Some prefer identity-first language, such as “chronically ill person” or “disabled person,” as they cannot or don’t want to separate themselves from their disability or illness in the same way that person-first language seems to encourage. Taking into account the person’s preferred terminology whenever possible aligns your framing with their lived experience.
physical difference/disfigurement
A physical difference that can significantly affect someone’s life is sometimes referred to as disfigurement (though this is not a universally accepted term). It can result from accidents, injuries, congenital disorders, or medical conditions, and can manifest in a wide variety of ways. These differences in appearance can have physical, emotional, and psychological effects, and people with such differences may experience stigma and discrimination. People with facial differences and researchers have suggested using phrases like “physical difference(s)” or simply describing the difference. As with any such identifier, if necessary and relevant to coverage to include, taking into account how someone describes themselves helps align language with their lived experience.
physician-assisted death
“Physician-assisted death” or “medical-assisted death” refers to the ability of a person with an end-stage, terminal illness to request medical assistance from a physician as an end-of-life option. “Physician-assisted death/dying” and “medical-assisted death” are the clearest terms and more descriptive than a phrase like “aid in dying.”
prescription medications
Prescription medications include a wide variety of medicines. How someone takes a medication can be described in terms of “takes” or “is prescribed,” instead of “uses,” as referring to prescription medications in terms of “drugs” and “uses” can carry strong connotations of substance use disorder or intentional misuse, particularly around medications that are perceived as being commonly misused.
sexually transmitted infection
A sexually transmitted infection refers to bacteria, a virus, or a parasite known to be transmitted through sexual activity. Sexually transmitted infection, or STI, is more accurate than the term sexually transmitted disease (STD), which can also be stigmatizing. As with disclosing any health condition, it should be done only when relevant and necessary to coverage, and it’s important to confirm with someone whether they are comfortable having their status written about publicly. Careful media coverage can help demystify and destigmatize STIs, and may encourage people to seek testing and treatment.
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