Issued by: Office of the President
MINISTRY IN THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE
December 3, 1995
GETTING IT RIGHT will, if approved, set guidelines for the appropriate terms to use when referring to people with disabilities.
National RDP Office Disability Desk director Shuaib Chalklen said traditional medical definitions of disability have been rejected as being inadequate and discriminatory.
"The United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities recommends that the word "disability" be used in preference to the world "handicapped", he said.
"The word "disability" summarises a great number of functional limitations occurring in any population in any country of the world. People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical conditions or mental illness. Such impairments, conditions or illnesses may be permanent of transitory in nature," Chalklen said.
"The term "handicapped", in contrast, means loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the life of the community on an equal level with others. It describes the encounter between the person with a disability and the environment.
"The purpose of this term is to emphasise the focus on the shortcomings in the environment and in many organised activities in society which prevent people with disabilities from participating on equal terms," he said.
In consultation with a broad range of disabled people's organisations in South African - and in line with UN recommendations - the following terminology has been recommended for use in reference to people with disabilities:
RECOMMENDED REJECTED
Persons with disabilities/ The handicapped disabled people
Persons with physical disabilities Physical handicap/cripple
The deaf Deaf and dumb/deaf mute
Persons with mental handicap Retarded
Persons with mental illness Mad/mental
Persons with epilepsy Epileptics
Persons with a... Persons suffering from a...
"The low level of understanding of disability issues necessitates a specific focus on terminology. It's one acknowledgement of common humanity and equality." Chalklen said.
ISSUED BY: Mandy Jean Woods Director: Communications Ministry in the Office of the President (Reconstruction and Development Programme)
Phone: (012) 341-5569 Fax: (012) 341-5569 ext 203 Pager: (011) 804-2777 code 71799
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT MANDY JEAN WOODS OR SHUAIB CHALKLEN AT THE RDP OFFICE IN PRETORIA.