When in London ...: differences in disability language preferences among English-speaking countries

With increases in world-wide travel and communication, cultural sensitivity becomes increasingly important. Professionals in English-speaking countries vary considerably in their preference of disability language. For example, the phrase person with mental retardation, although widely accepted in the United States, is offensive to many Britons. On the other hand, learning disability, the current British equivalent of mental retardation, is confusing to Americans. Differences in language preferences such as these can interfere with international communication. In this paper, language standards of disability organizations in four English-speaking countries were surveyed for similarities and differences. Recommendations were made to facilitate communication across cultures.