Talk

No, write to them ... that is a word I rarely see any more and they should know better!

What was the context? (Asking so you can word the letter, not because it changes my view on whether you should!)

I would write to them in a very polite manner, I expect whoever is in charge of the website content has simply missed it and not left it deliberately. It is absolutely worth pointing it out to them though, I would too!

The wording is "Handicapped groups of any size, registered disabled, and carers, get the concessionary rate"

YY, I think what beer says is good. Something like,

Dear [zoo contact person],

I visited today and noticed that on your sign at [details] you use the term 'handicapped' to refer to people with disabilities. I was surprised, as this is outdated terminology and many would find it upsetting to read, so I wanted to let you know how it might be received.'

I mean, zoos have an educational function, don't they, so IMO it is important they don't educate people while using the wrong words.

While you're writing, could you mention the use of the term Adoption for animals rather than Sponsoring? It keeps annoying me but not enough to actually write.
I've adopted 2 cheeky monkeys already, we don't have another bedroom available for a tiger!

Cross post.

How odd.

I've no idea what 'handicapped groups' are that make them different from groups of people with registered disabilities. I wonder if they're trying to make some distinction between people with registered disabiltiies and people who're struggling with something but don't have formal notification for it yet?

I suspect they mean people with learning disabilities perhaps? hence the distinction from people with 'registered disabilities'.

Thanks everyone. I happened to see it on their website when recommending it to someone on here! I have taken ds2 there a couple of times when he was smaller and he loved it!

Is it a UK zoo? In the US handicapped is the accepted term.

We were quite at seeing handicapped in use in the US when it is so unacceptable here.

Very definitely a UK Zoo!!

YANBU - they need educating!

"handicapped" is associated in the UK with incapacity and invalidity ... mental pictures of disabled people who can only receive charity and can't help themselves, which is simply wrong for the majority of disabled people. Also associated with disabled people begging 'cap in hand'.

It's rarely meant badly but the majority of disability groups strongly prefer one of two terms 'disabled people' or 'people with disabilities' (depending on which theory behind the language you hold to).

Its a good idea to write to them and point it out, I reckon. It might help to point out that it's an old and disliked term associated with helplessness and discrimination, also that disabled people's own preferred terms are "disabled people/people with disabilities".

YANBU

It's not Noah's Ark is it?

Presumably a zoo has a professional communications person managing their website? If so, refer them to the language guide on disability produced by the National Union of Journalists.

I am not naming the zoo.

It's used all the time in the US, you hear it on the TV programmes made there too. I feel a bit ill every time I hear it.

(You don't need to name it. I've just found it through Google.) Write and point it out, I bet they just have no idea.