Functioning and Disability

Functioning refers to all body functions and structures, activities, and participation. Disability refers to a breakdown in each level of functioning, respectively, including impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.

Person- and Identity-First Language

The American Psychological Association (APA) has advocated using person-first language when referring to people with disabilities (e.g., “person with an amputation” rather than “amputee”) to help reduce negative attitudes and stigma surrounding disabilities. However, disability culture advocates suggest the use of not only person-first, but also identity-first language (e.g., “amputee”). They assert that not all individuals with disabilities use person-first language, and that its exclusive use may unintentionally communicate that disabilities are undesirable and negative, as it separates the person from the disability. Alternatively, disability culture advocates suggest using both disability- and person-first language interchangeably, while taking into account individuals’ and groups’ preferences, which “ensures inclusion, addresses issues raised by disability studies and disability culture, respectively, and allows APA-style writing to evolve along with contemporary trends” [2].

Medical Abbreviations

Significant system-wide efforts by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and Institute for Safe Medication Practices have been made to improve language precision in order to reduce errors and patient morbidity and mortality through the identification of error-prone and problematic abbreviations, symbols, and medication dose designations. For example, the abbreviation “tiw” may be misinterpreted as “3 times a day” or “3 times in a week.” Instead, it is advisable to write out “3 times weekly” to reduce misinterpretations and errors [3, 4]. The following are commonly used and permissible abbreviations in medical and rehabilitation settings [5]: