Wikipedia:WikiProject Disability/Style advice (Version 2)

This style guide is intended as advice for Wikipedia editors writing about subjects involving disability and related topics. People with disabilities are a diverse set of people; there are therefore many different facets and perspectives to consider.

As members of a minority group, disabled people are subject to discrimination. This often takes the form of language, via general attitudes as well as specific word usage. This style guide explores respectful language, the use of which helps to maintain a neutral point of view. Although avoiding harm is not an official policy of Wikipedia, many forms of harmful language are also factually inaccurate.

When writing about a person who has a disability, first consider whether their disability is actually relevant to their notability. If it is not, it may be best not to mention the disability at all, since mentioning it would give it undue weight. If the disability is significant and discussing it is necessary to fully understand the significance of the subject, or you are writing about a topic directly related to disability, please read on.

Basics
Disability can be described as limitations caused by a person's physiology, as a social construct, as a personal identity, or all of the above. The medical model of disability suggests that disabling conditions are inherent in an individual, while the social model suggests that disability is externally imposed. As Wikipedia is neutral, it does not have a stance supporting either model. Instead, due weight is to be given to both the characteristics of individuals and the social ramifications.

Disability is frequently subject to negative judgment and social stigma. It is best to remain factual whenever describing the nature of a disability. In order to maintain a neutral point of view, ensure that an opinion about disability or a disabled person is from a reliable source before including it in an article. See Notability for further guidance.

In biographies of living persons (BLP), consider the weight given to a disability depending on where and how often it is mentioned. If the disability is well-known but not integral to the subject's identity, it may be best to add sectional details, but leave it out of the lead. For example, the article Ludwig Van Beethoven mentions in the body of the article that he became deaf, but does not open with "he was a deaf German composer" because that would place an inappropriate and undue emphasis on his deafness.

Keep in mind that Wikipedia is written for a broad general audience. Articles should be accessible to anyone, from PhD graduates in Uganda to high school students in the US, and including people with disability. Be careful of using jargon and in-group language that is understood only by people well versed in disability topics, or overly complex language. When such terminology is unavoidable, add a brief explanation and/or wikilink to a relevant article.