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Britain's leading tourist board has told its workers to use the phrase 'non-disabled' instead of 'able-bodied' because the latter term is 'harmful' language.

VisitBritain, the tourism quango, has suggested using this modified expression when talking about people who do not have disabilities in its 'inclusive welcome' guide.

The non-departmental public body urged tour guides to not use 'negative' language about disabled people that 'perpetuates harmful stereotypes'.

Elsewhere in their new guidance booklet, the board proclaimed the word 'dwarf' should be abandoned when describing those with dwarfism, instead suggesting the phrase 'someone with restricted growth or short stature'.

Their suggestions have left free speech champions 'astounded' and led one high-ranking advocate to label the board a 'caricature'.

Lord Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, told The Telegraph: 'What's next? "Non-blind" instead of "20:20 vision"? "Non-deaf" instead of "perfect hearing"?

'Will we have to describe Marilyn Monroe in future as "non-ginger" instead of "blonde"?

'This quango has literally become the caricature that free speech champions like me invented to discredit humourless woke scolds.' 









VisitBritain, the tourism quango, has suggested using the phrase 'non-disabled' when talking about people who do not have disabilities in its 'inclusive welcome' guide (file image) 




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VisitBritain issues 50-page inclusivity guide advising against words like 'blacklist', 'man hours' and 'blindspot'


Within their new 'inclusive welcome' guide, VisitBritain told staff members: 'Avoid using language that suggests having access requirements is a negative thing and encourages pity, such as "suffers from", "is a victim of", "handicapped", "invalid", "crippled by" or "wheelchair bound".

'This perpetuates harmful stereotypes and suggests that you know how a person feels about their impairment.

'Some people see it very much as a positive thing that has enhanced their life and therefore are offended by such language.'

If the tour guides are corrected for not using the right language, they have been urged by the board to 'resist the temptation to get defensive' and 'be open to education'.

The board also advises that 'positive language' is at times disadvantageous when trying to attract new customers, but ' can support your business from an SEO perspective'.

'it is likely that some potential customers may search for "wheelchair accessible lodges" or "disabled-friendly hikes", for example,' it reads.

Last April, VisitBritain workers were also told they couldn't use words such as 'blindspot' or 'man hours' anymore as the language is not inclusive.




Lord Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, was 'astounded' by the suggestions and called VisitBritain a 'caricature' 

Instead of man hours, the travel agency told firms hosting guests from overseas to say 'person hours' as to not to offend anyone and suggested the word 'blacklist' should be replaced by 'deny list' and 'blindspot' by 'missed opportunity'.

Inclusive language guides have been produced by a number of public bodies in recent times.

In the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance issued by the NHS last week, staff were told to not call fat people 'obese', while civil servants in Northern Ireland have previously been advised to avoid using the word 'millennials'.

Staffordshire Police has also warned officers not to say 'man up', 'OAP' or 'policeman' when dealing with the public and Sutton council staff were told not to ask people for their 'Christian' name.

MailOnline has approached VisitBritain for a comment.

 

 

 

 

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