Most offensive disability-related words

Growing up in the U.S., I always heard about "Mongoloids." Interestingly enough, once I moved to France I discovered that the correct term was "trisomie 21" ("Down's syndrome" had not even begun to be used by most English speakers at the time.). However, a number of offensive terms persist here, the most famous being "gogol" and "golio."

Actually, it seems to me that society has become much more linguistically tolerant of disabilities but still extremely nasty when referring to sexual, racial or ethnic differences when safely away from "polite company."

Is handicapped considered an offensive word? It ranks fairly low on the eighth position, but I would have thought is is fairly neutral term. I think disabled is more offensive than handicapped. What other term would be more appropriate and neutral to use?

I think wheelchair-bound depends very much on the context it is being used. Again I am thinking about how to describe a person more neutrally who is bound to a wheelchair. Paralyzed etc. is not very specific and could also mean that someone is bed-bound.

I think there are differing opinions on "handicapped." Some find it offensive--These are guidelines for the US Forest Service:

A disability is the result of a medically definable condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.

A handicap is a barrier or circumstance that makes progress or success difficult, such as an impassable flight of stairs or a negative attitude toward a person who has a disability.

You can read the whole thing here Disabled or handicapped One thing they mention is that by law and policy, US government agencies use "persons/people with disabilities."

To me, "wheelchair-bound" implies helplessness in a way that "wheelchair user" does not.

And, in case someone brings it up, handicap does not derive from cap in hand meaning a beggar.

I don't remember what site it was on, but there was something a few years ago where somebody was saying that "cripples" have a special entrance to something. Several people were absolutely aghast that anybody would still use the word "cripple." (#7 on the list -- and I am surprised at the person who said it was only used offensively)

Although this term would not automatically spring to my mind except to refer to characters in the works of Charles Dickens, I am constantly amazed at how people completely turn against words that used to be common and take offense if anybody else uses them, particularly when the word was not used derogatorily.

Perhaps a term should be invented for people who are afflicted with this condition.

I think "cripple" has indeed changed connotations in the last few decades and has become derogatory.

kerouac--have you never heard kids taunting a disabled kid as a "crip"? Or people poking fun at the "cripple" in a wheelchair?

On the other hand, there are disability advocates who refer to themselves as "cripples," in the same spirit a gay person might say "I'm a queer."

While I have heard the nasty word "crip" I do not think that it contaminates proper forms of the word "cripple," just as calling a person a "whitey" does not contaminate the word "white." However, the etymology of the gang name "Crips" is indeed fascinating.

I certainly would not call a "crippling disease" a "disabling disease" because the word "crippling" contains more precise information about the nature of the disease.

I don't think "crippling" as in "crippling disease" has acquired the same derogatory tone as "cripple."

So then why on earth should the word "cripple" be derogatory? Aren't some of you fed up with stupid people perverting our vocabulary? It seems as though everybody is just giving up when somebody says that a word is offensive even when it isn't true. Just as I try to defend proper grammar and spelling, I will continue to defend simple words that are being taken away from us for stupid reasons. "Oriental" offensive? Shouldn't Occidental be banned at the same time then?

I'd certainly vote for #1 and #2, possibly in reverse order. Never heard 3 and 4 used in Australia. 5 and 6 make me cringe. (Also when applied to cancer sufferers or sick children). Had never thought about 'wheelchair-bound' as being derogatory, will be careful about using that in future.