The Straits Times updates the language it uses to describe disability

The Straits Times has updated the language it uses to describe disability, in an effort to portray persons with disabilities more sensitively and accurately.

- Theresa Tan Senior Social Affairs Correspondent

This comes after a review of the terminology used in the newsroom, and consultation with organisations in the disability sector, over the past few months.

“Language is a powerful tool to reflect and shape community attitudes as well as reflect the perspectives of particular groups,” said ST editor Jaime Ho.

“But we also acknowledge that there is no one-size-fits-all description of disability.”

The changes in how ST aims to cover persons with disabilities are part of the newsroom’s ongoing work to review and rethink its approach to journalism, he said.

One key change is the use of person-first language, which emphasises the person before the condition, such as saying “a person with disability” instead of “a disabled person”, or “a boy with autism” rather than “an autistic boy”.

The person-first approach recognises that a disability is only one part of a person and does not define the individual entirely.

In many organisations and institutions, including the UN, the person-first approach has become the most widely accepted language to refer to persons with disabilities.

Social service agencies say that using appropriate terms helps uphold the dignity of persons with disabilities and reduce stigma.

The review followed the first Conversations with ST session in January, which saw 45 guests from the nonprofit sector discussing ST’s coverage of social issues, including disability terminology, with Mr Ho and members of the newsroom.

The Conversations series, which was launched as part of events to mark ST’s 180th anniversary in 2025, gives readers a direct platform to engage with the newsroom.