• A person has an intellectual disability, rather than is suffering from, afflicted with, or a victim of an intellectual disability. It is preferred terminology not to write or say that a person is intellectually disabled.
• Down syndrome has replaced Down's Syndrome and mongoloid.
• Physically challenged or disabled rather than crippled.
• Someone who is partially sighted is visually impaired rather than blind.
• A person has a seizure rather than a fit.
• A person has a seizure disorder or epilepsy, rather than is epileptic.
• Distinguish between adults and children with intellectual disabilities, and older or younger athletes.
• Refer to people in Special Olympics as athletes. The word athletes should not appear in quotation marks.
• When writing, refer to persons with a disability in the same style as person without a disability: full name on first reference and last name on subsequent references.
• A person uses a wheelchair rather than is confined or restricted to a wheelchair.

Do not use the following terminology:

• Do not use the word kids when referring to Special Olympics athletes. Adult athletes are an integral part of the program.
• Do not use the adjective unfortunate when talking about persons with mental retardation.
• Do not use the word the in front of Special Olympics unless describing a specific Special Olympics event.
• Do not sensationalize the accomplishments of people with a disability. While these accomplishments should be recognized and applauded, people in the disability rights movement have tried to make the public aware of the negative impact of referring to the achievements of physically or mentally challenged people with excessive hyperbole.
• Do not overuse the word special when referring to persons with intellectual disabilities. Their accomplishments should not be trivialized by using cute words to describe their efforts.
• According to Special Olympics Inc.'s charter with the International Olympic Committee, we are not to use the term Olympian. This means that we must not refer to the athletes as Special Olympians, but rather as Special Olympics athletes.