Fatlaðs

Fatlaðs is an Icelandic term used in reference to disability, most commonly as the genitive singular form of the adjective fatlaður, meaning disabled. It appears in phrases describing people with disabilities, rights, services, and organizations, such as fatlað fólk (disabled people), réttindi fatlaðs fólks (the rights of disabled people), and félag fatlaðs fólks (association of disabled people). The form fatlaðs is used in genitive constructions, for example in legal or policy language.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from the Icelandic adjective fatlaður. In everyday and administrative Icelandic, fatlaðs and related forms function to identify disability as a characteristic within a larger noun phrase. In disability discourse, there is ongoing discussion about terminology and emphasis. Some speakers prefer person-first language, such as fólk með fatlanir (people with disabilities), to highlight the person rather than the condition. Others continue to use fatlað/ fatlaðs constructions in standard legal and policy contexts.

Policy and rights: Iceland is party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and has developed laws and policies aimed at accessibility, education, employment, and social services for disabled people. Phrases like réttindi fatlaðs fólks and aðgengi fatlaðs fólks (accessibility for disabled people) appear in legal and administrative texts, reflecting commitments to inclusion, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation.

See also: Disability in Iceland, Icelandic language, People with disabilities.