UndergradSkiller: Skill Set Map for Undergraduates and Their Educators

COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION: Inclusive and Accessible Communication

Disability-Inclusive Language

Language about disability is evolving, and different communities have different preferences. Some favor person-first language ("a person with a disability"), while others prefer identity-first language ("a Deaf person"). These style guides help writers make informed, respectful choices.:

Useful Resources on Disability-Inclusive Language:

American Psychological Association. (2024, October). Disability. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language/disability

Annotation: APA Style guidelines on writing about disability with inclusivity and respect. Covers person-first and identity-first language, preferred terminology for specific communities, and the importance of honoring group language preferences.

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. (n.d.). Disability language style guide. https://cronkite.asu.edu/ncdj/disability-language-style-guide

Annotation: Comprehensive A–Z style guide from the National Center on Disability and Journalism at Arizona State University. Provides detailed guidance on preferred terminology for a wide range of disabilities and conditions, aimed at journalists and communicators writing about disability with accuracy and sensitivity.

Special Interest Group on Accessible Computing. (n.d.). Accessible writing guides. https://www.sigaccess.org/welcome-to-sigaccess/resources/accessible-writing-guide

Annotation: Resource page from ACM SIGACCESS on language use when writing about accessibility and disability in academic computing contexts. Links to key scholarly articles on choosing accurate terminology that reflects group preferences, with attention to identity-first versus people-first language.

Peer Review: None

Table of contents:

5.1. Communication Foundations

5.2. Rhetoric and Persuasive Communication

5.3. Science and Public Communication

5.4. Oral Presentations
5.4.1. Presentation Techniques

5.5. Giving and Receiving Feedback
5.5.1. Giving Feedback

5.6. Teamwork and Collaboration
5.6.1. Understanding Teams
5.6.2. Working in Groups
5.6.3. Team Presentations

5.7. Networking

5.8. Leadership

5.9. Writing in English
5.9.1. English Language Development
5.9.2. Support for Multilingual Writers
5.9.3. Writing in Professional and Academic Contexts

5.10. Inclusive and Accessible Communication
5.10.1. Inclusive Language Principles
5.10.2. Inclusive Language Reference Tools
5.10.3. Gender-Inclusive Language
5.10.4. Writing about Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Identity

5.10.5. Disability-Inclusive Language

5.10.6. Document Accessibility

 

Author: Leeanne Irwin

Peer Reviewer(s): None