Synonyms and antonyms of Disability and people with disabilities in American Thesaurus

accessible (adjective)

an accessible place or building is suitable for use by disabled people

ataxia (noun)

the loss of the ability to control the movements your body makes

the blind (adjective)

people who cannot see

challenged (adjective)

unable to do particular things without difficulty because of being disabled in some way

developmental disability (noun)

a condition that prevents someone from learning basic skills as quickly or easily as other people

disability (noun)

a condition in which someone is not able to use a part of their body or brain properly, for example because of an injury

disabled (adjective)

someone who is disabled is unable to use part of their body or brain properly because of injury or disease

the disabled (adjective)

people who are disabled. Some people consider this word offensive and prefer to use the expression “people with disabilities”.

disablement (noun)

formal a condition in which someone is not able to use a part of their body or brain properly because of injury or disease

dumb (adjective)

old-fashioned permanently unable to speak. This word is now usually considered offensive. The more usual word is speech impaired.

handicap (noun)

old-fashioned a physical or mental injury or illness that is severe and permanent. This word is now considered offensive and it is more polite to say that someone has a disability

the handicapped (adjective)

old-fashioned someone who is handicapped has a permanent injury, illness, or other problem that makes them unable to use their body or mind normally. This word is now considered offensive and it is more polite to say that someone is learning disabled, visually impaired, hearing impaired, or simply disabled.

the handicapped (adjective)

old-fashioned people who are disabled. This is now considered offensive and it is more polite to say people with disabilities.

impaired (adjective)

if your body’s ability to do something is impaired, you are not fully able to do it

impairment (noun)

the fact that a part of your body is unable to do something fully

impediment (noun)

a physical or psychological problem that affects how well someone can do something

invalid (noun)

relating to someone who is sick or injured, especially permanently

lame (adjective)

used for describing someone who is disabled because their leg or foot is damaged. This word is now considered offensive.

learning disability (noun)

a condition that affects someone’s ability to speak, read, write, or organize information, even though they are able to learn and use other basic skills as quickly or easily as other people

learning-disabled (adjective)

affected by a medical condition such as dyslexia or dyspraxia that causes difficulties with reading, spelling, and some other basic skills

locked-in syndrome (noun)

a condition in which a patient is awake and aware but cannot move or speak because almost all the muscles in the body except for the eyes are paralyzed

mute (adjective)

old-fashioned not able to speak

mute (noun)

offensive someone who is not able to speak

the Paralympics ()

an international sports event for people with physical disabilities that takes place every four years

paralysis (noun)

the loss of the ability to move your body or a part of it, usually because of an injury or illness

paralytic (adjective)

affected by paralysis

paralyzed (adjective)

unable to move your body or part of it, usually because of an illness or injury

paraplegic (noun)

someone who is affected by paraplegia

physically challenged (adjective)

disabled in a way that prevents you from using part of your body properly

quadriplegic (adjective)

someone who is quadriplegic has an illness or injury that makes them permanently unable to move their body below their neck

retarded (adjective)

offensive an old-fashioned word for someone who has not developed mentally as much as most other people of the same age. This word is now considered offensive.

special education (noun)

educational services for people with disabilities and people who have difficulty learning at the usual rate

special needs (noun)

the particular needs of people who have physical or mental disabilities

special needs (noun)

relating to people who have special needs, or to the things that are provided for them

the Special Olympics ()

a series of international sports competitions for people who have learning disabilities

wheelchair (noun)

a chair with large wheels that someone who cannot walk uses for moving around