hæmmede

hæmmede is a Danish term historically used to refer to people with disabilities. The word derives from hæmme, meaning to hinder or impede, and hæmmede literally denotes those who are hindered. In older Danish, the term was common in medical, legal, and everyday language to describe people with physical, sensory, or mental impairments. In modern Danish, hæmmede is generally considered outdated or stigmatizing.

Today most linguistic guidance and disability organizations advocate person-first language, such as "personer med handicap" (people with a disability). The shift aligns with broader reforms in Danish and international usage toward avoiding labels that imply identity or inferiority. Despite this, the historical term may still appear in archival material, literature, or discussions of disability history.

Contemporary Danish policy and public discourse emphasize accessibility, participation, and equal rights for all citizens. The vocabulary used to describe disability reflects ongoing debates about respect, autonomy, and the balance between medical and social understandings of disability. In practice, "personer med handicap" or "handicappede" may be encountered, but the preferred form in most formal and inclusive contexts is "personer med handicap."

See also: Disability rights in Denmark; Disability terminology; Accessibility.