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“The disabled”, “differently abled” or people with disabilities: what changes in the design?
“The disabled”, “differently abled”, people with disabilities: it is not just a matter of language
In Italian, the term is “persona con disabilità”, person with disabilities: it is the term used by the UN Convention and, since 2024, by Italian law. From the Convention to the ICF, why putting the person before the condition changes the way we design, and why Design for All speaks of human diversity and aspirations, not of categories.
· updated 5 min read
In Italian, the term is “persona con disabilità”, person with disabilities. It is the term used by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by Italy with Law 18 of 2009, and since 30 June 2024 it has also been the term that Italian law adopts systematically: Legislative Decree 62/2024 replaces “disabile” (disabled), “diversamente abile” (differently abled), “portatore di handicap” (person with a handicap) and “persona handicappata” (handicapped person) with “persona con disabilità”. Putting the person before the condition is not a matter of verbal courtesy: it changes the way we design.
On the face of it, this may seem a question of language. But everyday language, and the way it is used, remains an expression of culture, of how civil a society is, of ways of thinking and of how much attention is paid to others. Indeed, some contemporary authors describe human language as an instrument of thought.
The UN Convention and Italian law
As a result of the evolution of everyday language, which constantly seeks to improve, not least in terms of respect and sensitivity towards individuals, the choices made by major governmental bodies are clear, such as the United Nations (opens in a new tab) with the “UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (opens in a new tab)”, adopted by the General Assembly on 13 December 2006. “Persons with disabilities” is also the term officially used by the Italian State, which ratified the Convention with Law No. 18 of 3 March 2009. In all likelihood, this is to put the focus on the person rather than on the pathology or physical condition.
(opens in a new tab)Since 30 June 2024 the choice has become systematic. Article 4 of Legislative Decree No. 62 of 3 May 2024 (opens in a new tab) provides that, in the legislation in force, the word “handicap” is replaced by “condizione di disabilità” (condition of disability), and that “persona handicappata” (handicapped person), “portatore di handicap” (person with a handicap), “persona affetta da disabilità” (person suffering from a disability), “disabile” (disabled) and “diversamente abile” (differently abled) are replaced by “persona con disabilità” (person with disabilities).
From the medical model to the ICF
Even more than architectural barriers, then, it is cultural barriers that can have a major social impact on the disciplines and expressions of human activity. The ICF (opens in a new tab) (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health), adopted by the World Health Organization in 2001, had already laid the foundations for revising certain paradigms, shifting attention from impairment to the functioning of the person in their environment. The UN Convention drew the consequence in point (e) of its preamble: “disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”. If disability arises from an interaction, part of the responsibility lies with those who design the environment.
Why it concerns design
When this choice of words accompanies design, it reinforces the innovative and contemporary meaning of the project (from the Latin proiectum, from pro-icere, “to throw forward”: that which is thrown ahead, the root of both the Italian “progetto” and the English “project”). Equally, providing design services, products or anything else “for the disabled” or “for the differently abled” is almost an oxymoron: something that could improve quality of life, independence and the right to access and use ends up at odds with respect for people.
Those who design “for the disabled” start from a category and tend to produce a separate, recognisable object, often with a hospital feel, which declares the condition of its user before it even serves them. Those who design for people, including people with disabilities, start from gestures, contexts and desires. Even when a dedicated aid is needed, which the UN Convention expressly recognises, they design it so that it can be chosen rather than endured: a solution anyone might want.
Words in Design for All
Once again, Design for All proves more far-sighted and discreet, speaking of human diversity, including in relation to desires and ambitions. It has done so since the 2004 Stockholm Declaration, which speaks of human diversity and aspirations, not of categories.
How many people this choice concerns is shown by the data on ageing and disability in Europe; how it translates into solutions is shown by our case studies. The essay A phenomenology of exclusion describes what happens when design ignores this diversity. For organisations and companies that want to apply the same principle to spaces, products and services, the studio offers Design for All and Inclusive Design consultancy.
Frequently asked questions
Which term does Italian use: “disabile” or “persona con disabilità”?
In Italian, the term is “persona con disabilità”, person with disabilities. It is the term used by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by Italy with Law 18 of 2009, and since 30 June 2024 Italian law has adopted it systematically.
What does Legislative Decree 62/2024 establish about terminology?
Article 4 provides that, in the legislation in force, “handicap” is replaced by “condizione di disabilità” (condition of disability), and that “persona handicappata” (handicapped person), “portatore di handicap” (person with a handicap), “persona affetta da disabilità” (person suffering from a disability), “disabile” (disabled) and “diversamente abile” (differently abled) are replaced by “persona con disabilità” (person with disabilities).
Why does the choice of words concern design?
Because the UN Convention describes disability as the result of the interaction between people and the barriers in their environment: part of the responsibility lies with those who design. Those who design “for the disabled” tend to produce a separate object that declares the condition of its user; those who design for people create solutions that can be chosen rather than endured.
In our projects
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Designing for people
If a product or space was created “for the disabled”, we can rethink it with the people who will use it, so that it can be chosen rather than endured.