Open contract: a dictionary for communicating with people with disabilities will appear in Russia

An explanatory dictionary of ethical and unethical words that are recommended to be used in relation to people with disabilities, young parents, representatives of the older generation, people of a different culture, language and nationality will appear in Russia. The document was prepared by the Donors Forum, charitable organizations and the Tolerance Center of the Jewish Museum in Moscow. If widely implemented, the glossary will increase employee productivity, but this process must be accompanied by training in its proper use. And the decision on the use of the dictionary in a particular company should be made unanimously by employees and employers, experts interviewed by Izvestia believe.

What will be the changes in communication?

Russia will have a navigator of ethical words and addresses that are recommended for those with special needs: people with disabilities, young parents, representatives of the older generation, people of a different culture, language and nationality. The handbook "Not just words: a glossary of ethical vocabulary in the field of diversity, equality and inclusion" is planned to be presented on September 30, 2025 by the Association of Grant-giving Organizations "Forum of Donors", the charitable foundations "Absolut-Aid" and "Light" and the Tolerance Center of the Jewish Museum in Moscow with the support of the Presidential Grants Foundation. A team of linguists, sociologists, and representatives of more than 40 NGOs worked on it for more than three months. The document is at the disposal of Izvestia.

— This methodological guide is primarily a tool for corporate teams and managers, whose team includes people with various kinds of special needs, — the developers explained.

The glossary, its authors are sure, should help build a friendly atmosphere in the teams, and, accordingly, the work will become more productive. The explanatory dictionary also contains articles explaining why phobias of certain differences develop, what the misuse of words leads to, and what undesirable context habitual expressions may have, the developers added.

Personal choice: what changes await beneficiaries from October

Russians need to decide on a form of social support before the end of the month.

When referring to people with disabilities or special needs, according to them, it is important to adhere to the general principles of inclusive vocabulary, in particular the principles of self—designation and personal choice, and in situations where personal position is unknown, the principle of "man first".

"There are many subtleties related to the context of the situation and life circumstances, personal experiences, self-identification and the position of people with a particular form of disability or health features," the glossary says.

Each person has many characteristics and personality components. Disability or a special feature of health is only one of them, therefore it is unacceptable to reduce the essence of a person to one facet of his personality, the developers of the explanatory dictionary emphasized.

All definitions describing the presence of disability or health features should be used in conjunction with a noun, the authors of the document noted. It is also necessary to avoid terms that imply the superiority of one group of people over another: words should not stigmatize, compare or belittle a person on the basis of health. For example, it is unacceptable to use the words "unhealthy", "defective", "abnormal" person.

"One should not focus on a medical diagnosis or a form of disability if it is not necessary. If the mention of disability and health features is required for the information content and completeness of the message, then specific ethical names should be used, avoiding abstract formulations," the glossary emphasizes.

It is necessary to use respectful, neutral vocabulary, avoiding cliche phrases that carry evaluative and emotionally colored beliefs, according to the dictionary developers. For example, you should say "a person in a wheelchair," not "a person confined to a wheelchair." Or it is correct to say "a child with cerebral palsy" rather than "a child suffering from cerebral palsy." Also, according to them, it is not necessary to use pity-based formulations and endow people of a certain group with superpowers. For example, it is inappropriate to claim that all people with mental disabilities have a special creative gift.

"When describing a particular person's experience, it is important to focus on their own preferences and personal choices in how they would like to be represented in the public space, but these views should not be extrapolated to all people with similar health characteristics or disabilities," the glossary says.

Dangerous stop: escalators in Russia may stop on September 1

Today, there are about 22,000 mechanisms in operation in the country to lift people both in shopping malls and in medical centers.

If you have doubts or questions about ethical communication with a particular person due to their disability or health conditions, you can ask them what words are acceptable to use. It is also important not to use generalizations and one-sided images of a certain group of people and, when communicating with a person with a disability, address them directly rather than their accompanying person.

In addition, it is incorrect to use terms related to disability and health in relation to everyday situations for the sake of a joke or as metaphors. For example, don't say, "Can't you hear me? Are you deaf?" or "Yes, he's sclerotic, he always forgets everything." Such expressions are negatively colored and stigmatizing.

"Having a disability or a particular health condition is not a reason for condescending tone or familiarity," the glossary's developers say.

It is also incorrect to speak of people with disabilities as "a person with special features", "limitations", "disabilities or functions", "defective", "abnormal person" or "a person with a defect, injury or lack of health".

All these terms describe a person as inferior and violate the principle of equality, the developers of the explanatory dictionary noted. Also, according to them, it is better to say "older person" than "elderly" and it is more correct to say "solo mom" rather than "single mom".

Prospects for widespread use

It is still difficult for people with disabilities to get a decent job in the labor market, neuropsychologist Maria Todorova confirmed to Izvestia.

— The main problems are related, among other things, to the attitude within the team. Sometimes a person finds himself in a situation where words or definitions are applied to him that he perceives as derogatory or harsh, even if the speaker did not mean it," she stressed. — That is why it is important to be tactful and attentive to the language we use.

Tolerance and respectful communication help reduce stress and tension in the workplace, which means they increase productivity and a sense of belonging to the team, said Maria Todorova.

The glossary, according to the expert, can be an important help for employers and employees.

"For employers, the developed dictionary will be a kind of guideline that allows them to build a culture of respectful communication, and for employees it will be a support, especially if they are afraid of accidentally hitting a colleague with an inaccurate word," the expert believes.

According to Natalia Kretova, a career consultant, many people are afraid to hire people with disabilities because it is difficult to terminate an employment contract with them. Nevertheless, companies hire them because they are very loyal and diligent employees.

Inclusivity in the labor market is not only a matter of social responsibility, but also an important tool for company development, said the Director of Organizational Development and Human Resources. hh.ru Elena Petrova.

"By opening up more opportunities for people with disabilities, employers get motivated employees and expand their talent pool," she said. — Such teams are becoming more stable, strong and diverse.

To ensure correct and respectful interaction within the corporate culture, employees and employers will actively use the developed glossary, Natalia Skrebtsova, Executive Director of the Butterfly Children Foundation, told Izvestia.

— This manual will become an integral part of the fund's workflow. It will contribute to the formation of uniform standards of treatment," she stressed.

The Leukemia Foundation noted that employees with disabilities do face communication difficulties: colleagues may use careless expressions that hurt.

"This is not always done intentionally, but the atmosphere of tension hinders work and development," the organization stressed.

The magic of small things: how the September campaign "Children instead of flowers" gives hope

The stories of those who managed to help and those who are waiting for support right now

According to the foundation, many companies lack systemic inclusivity practices.

— In large corporations, there are HR departments with ethical codes, but in medium and small businesses, everything depends on the will of the head. Employees don't have clear guidelines on how to interact correctly. A glossary can enhance communication culture and reduce the risk of misunderstanding," they added.

At the same time, the organization believes that the reaction to the glossary may vary.

— Many people will accept it with gratitude: there have been a lack of clear rules for a long time. Others may see it as a kind of imposition. It is important not only to create and implement a glossary, but also to explain that this is not about censorship, but about respect.

If the introduction of the glossary is not accompanied by training and support from managers, the document risks remaining a mere formality, the Leukemia Foundation stressed. The humanization of the work environment requires new approaches to communication, agrees Yuri Zhulev, co-chairman of the All-Russian Union of Patients.

According to him, the appearance of such a tool as a glossary of ethical vocabulary will help to create a culture of respect in teams and get rid of stereotypical or derogatory expressions.

"The creation of such a document is a step towards a more mature society where the dignity and uniqueness of each person are valued," he stressed.

And Nikolay Prokhorenko, an expert in the field of public health, noted that the mass use of the glossary in various companies is possible only if it is standardized, that is, fixed, for example, in regulations and regulatory documents. The decision on the implementation of the dictionary should be made after discussion with employees and heads of departments, that is, only after reaching a consensus, the specialist concluded.