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A Journalist's Guide to Intellectual Disability

A handy resource to help you in your profession.
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Understanding Intellectual Disability

If you are aiming to get a strong grasp on intellectual disability, this is the place to be.

On this page, we explore the following topics – relevant to journalists and other media professionals:

  • What is intellectual disability?
  • Reporting on intellectual disability
  • Interviewing a person with intellectual disability

What Is Intellectual Disability?

Intellectual disability is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour, which impact everyday social and practical skills.

It is typically identified during childhood and can range from mild to profound, affecting a person's cognitive and adaptive skills such as learning, reasoning and problem-solving.

People with intellectual disability often require support with everyday activities such as shopping, cooking, eating, washing, dressing and toileting.

Like all of us, people with intellectual disability have unique hopes and dreams. An intellectual disability does not stop someone from living a fulfilling life, given appropriate support.

Reporting on Intellectual Disability

There are several words and phrases that should be avoided when reporting on intellectual disability – or disability in general. They include:

Terminology Explanation
Brave Although someone has a disability, it doesn’t mean they are ‘courageous’, ‘brave’ or ‘special’. People with disability are like anyone else. It is not unusual or unique for someone with disability to have talents, skills and abilities.
Despite People with intellectual disability are active in their community because of their abilities, not despite their disability.
Disabled This word emphasises the disability, not the person. Using ‘people/person with intellectual disability’ is preferable.
Disadvantaged A person is not disadvantaged just because they have an intellectual disability.
Handicapped/retarded A disability in itself needn’t be a handicap, although often society’s response to a person’s disability can be. Many people with disability find the ‘R word’ highly offensive, and it should not be used.
Normal Normal does not really exist. This word implies that people with disability are abnormal.
People with disabilities This phrase can imply that it relates only to people with more than one disability. The use of ‘people with disability’ is preferable.
People like this/these people These phrases imply that people with disability are outside the norm and are exceptional or excluded in some way.
Special needs Many people with disability dislike euphemisms like ‘special needs’, ‘physically challenged’ or ‘differently abled’. People with disability may feel patronised if they are referred to as having special needs.
Sufferer/suffers from Referring to someone as a cystic fibrosis sufferer amounts to defining a person in terms of an illness. If the person’s exact illness or disability must be mentioned, it would be preferable to word it as a ‘person with cystic fibrosis’. Equally, having a disability or a serious medical condition does not automatically equate to suffering. The use of the word ‘suffering’ or ‘sufferer’ may be considered patronising.
Wheelchair-bound/confined to a wheelchair Use ‘wheelchair user’ rather than ‘confined to a wheelchair’ or ‘wheelchair-bound’. Wheelchairs enable people to be mobile – they’re liberating, not confining.

Interviewing Someone with Intellectual Disability

People with intellectual disability are the best authority on their own lives, feelings and opinions.

We believe that their voices should be heard, and we support them participating in the media if they wish to do so.

While people with disability may find it more challenging to understand and communicate, conversation should be as with any adult. There is no need to talk louder than usual and avoid speaking as though to a child.

Here are some additional tips that you may find useful:

  • Explain any recording equipment you might have before you start
  • Ensure the interview environment is as quiet and free from distraction as possible
  • Even if a support worker is present, address the person with intellectual disability first. If necessary, ask for clarification or additional information from the support worker
  • Questions should be phrased simply – speak clearly and use everyday language, avoiding jargon
  • Sentences should be short, dealing with only one topic at a time
  • Questions relating to time or numbers can be problematic. Therefore, questions such as ‘how much?’, ‘how often?’ or ‘since when?’ should be avoided
  • If you are unsure if the person you are interviewing has understood your question, rephrase it or give examples of what you mean
  • If you don’t understand the response, ask the individual to explain what they mean in a different way
  • If you need to provide written information, use a large font with double line spacing. Visual images can also be helpful

Here to Help

If you have any questions about the content on this page or need other assistance, contact our media team.

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