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Politically Correct Terminology

Regarding

People with Acquired Brain Injuries


June 21, 2009

Here are some examples of politically correct language and some examples of not so correct terminology about those of us who have sustained a brain injury. For demonstration purposes we are using all capital letters at the beginning of each word..

BEST TERMS

  • Individual with (a) Brain Injury
  • Individuals with (a) Brain Injury
  • Person with (a) Brain Injury
  • People with (a) Brain Injury
  • Survivor with or of (a) Brain Injury
  • Survivors with or of (a) Brain Injury
.Further examples in this best category include but are not limited to:
  • Person with Post-TBI Syndrome
  • People with Post-TBI Syndrome
  • Survivor of Acquired Brain Injury
  • Survivors of Acquired Brain Injury
  • Person with an Acquired Brain Injury
  • People with Anoxic Brain Injuries
  • Survivor of Stroke
  • Survivors of Stroke
  • Survivor of TBI
  • Survivors of TBI
  • Person with Postconcussion Syndrome
  • People with Postconcussion Syndrome
  • Person with Brain Tumor(s)
  • People with Brain Tumor(s)
  • Survivor of Acquired Brain Injury
  • Survivors of Acquired Brain Injury
  • Person with Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Syndrome
  • People with Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Syndrome
  • Person with Brain Injury due to Encephalitis (or other disease)
  • People with Brain Injury due to Encephalitis (or other disease)
  • NEW: (2021) Disease now includes Covid.

OK TERMS (as these are being used in various survivor groups)

  • Brain Injury Survivor
  • Brain Injury Survivors
  • Brain Injury Thriver
  • Brain Injury Thrivers
  • Brain Injury Winner
  • Brain Injury Winners
Additional examples in this OK category include but are not limited to:
  • TBI Survivor
  • TBI Survivors
  • Stroke Survivor
  • Stroke Survivors
  • Anoxic Injury Survivor
  • Anoxic Injury Survivors
  • Meningitis Survivor
  • Meningitis Survivors
  • Brain Tumor Survivor
  • Brain Tumor Survivors
  • Coma Survivor
  • Coma Survivors
  • Brain Injury Survivor
  • Brain Injury Survivors
  • Aneurysm Survivor
  • Aneurysm Survivors

FAIR TERMS

  • Person or People with Cognitive Challenges (Please note that not all persons with a brain injury are ultimately cognitively challenged, although many are. Some do recover their cognitive functions. Also, some have other sorts of physical, perceptual, or sensory challenges, but may ultimately restore to a cognitively normal level.)
  • Person or People with an Intellectual Disability (This has generally referred to persons born with developmental disabilities. So when it comes to Persons with Acquired Brain Injuries, this would not be the most accurate term.)

POOR TERMS

  • Victim
  • Brain Injured Victims
  • Brain Damaged Person
  • Brain Damaged People
  • Head Case
  • Head Cases