The importance of disability‐inclusive language

Disability-inclusive language has been garnering attention in recent years, and higher education providers (HEPs) need to move with the times. Outdated terminology such as ‘declare and disclose’; ‘interventions’; and ‘people with disabilities’ should be avoided to ensure disabled students and disabled staff feel welcomed, and to nurture a sense of belonging. Negative terminology perpetuates misconceptions and can contribute to discriminatory attitudes and actions. Existing and new models of disability, including the STAART Principles of Disability (SPoD) will be discussed to demonstrate the impact of language. This paper was developed from a presentation I was invited to deliver for the Open University Access, Participation and Success seminar in October 2023 and uses disability-inclusive language in a UK context.