Tool

Inclusive Language Guide

January 2023 | American Psychological Association

This guide from the American Psychological Association supports the use of culturally sensitive terms and phrases that center the voices and perspectives of communities that have been historically marginalized or stereotyped. The guide provides comprehensive definitions for terms related to equity and power, describes the origins of problematic terms and phrases, and provides more inclusive alternatives. The language in the guide was developed from a U.S. context; contents include person-first and identity-first language, along with identity-related terms connected to age, body size and weight, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation and gender diversity, and race, ethnicity, and culture. The guide will provide teachers and leaders with some of the tools they need to avoid microaggressions while using language that is intentionally inclusive, flexible, and oriented toward intersectionality.

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