The Oxford English dictionary defines a handicap as “a condition that restricts a person’s ability to function physically, mentally or socially.”
Do not describe a person as handicapped unless it is central to the story. Avoid using handicap and handicapped when describing a person. Instead, refer to the person’s specific condition. The terms are still widely used when citing laws, regulations, places or things, such as handicapped parking, although many prefer the term accessible parking.
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