Handicap, Handicapped

Meaning

A handicap is the effect of a disability and over time the term handicap has been linked with issues of equity.

When describing a person, use “person with a disability” or “disabled person” instead.

Regulations or places like “handicapped parking” are generally acceptable. However, it’s more preferred to use the term “accessible parking.”

Background

Most sources claim that the origin is a lottery game called “hand-in-cap,” which was played in the 1600s.

Over time, “handicap” was linked to equity as it was commonly used in sports to make a certain competition fairer. For instance, faster horses were made to carry weights so they could be more on par with the slower ones.

In 1915, “handicap” was first employed in connection with a disability when it pertained to children with mobility impairments.

In the 1950s, “handicap” was also applied to adults and those with intellectual disabilities.

In 1992, when Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was renewed and amended, one of the amendments was to correct terminology. Recognizing the negative impact of certain terms, the word "handicapped" was replaced with the phrase "persons with disabilities."

Alternatives

Handicap and disability are closely related terms often used concerning people with special needs. As they are very close synonyms, they are usually interchangeably used.

Read more: The Difference Between Handicapped and Disabled 

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