I see a lot of dated terms kicking around the site (e.g. "handicapped", "the disabled", etc. -- I used to use the terms too!). It may not seem important, but language matters especially in terms of people-first language. Example: I am a person with a disability NOT a disabled person. A subtle but important difference.
In addition to the thread here: http://msworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=132261 I found some additional resources.
Language is ever evolving and I learn so much from these resources and I wanted to share with you guys. Some food for thought.
Site: disabilityisnatural.com
Full PDF: disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl09.pdf
Examples of people-first language
People with disabilities
instead of The handicapped or disabled
Paul has a cognitive disability (diagnosis)
instead of He’s mentally retarded
Kate has autism (or a diagnosis of)
instead of She’s autistic
Jose has Down syndrome (or a diagnosis of)
instead of He’s Down’s; a Down’s person; mongoloid
Sara has a learning disability (diagnosis)
instead of She’s learning disabled
Bob has a physical disability (diagnosis)
instead of He’s a quadriplegic/is crippled
Maria uses a wheelchair/mobility chair
instead of She’s confined to/is wheelchair bound
Tom has a mental health condition
instead of He’s emotionally disturbed/mentally ill
Ryan receives special ed services
instead of He’s in special ed; is a sped student/inclusion student
LaToya has a developmental delay
instead of She’s developmentally delayed
Children without disabilities
instead of Normal/healthy/typical kids
Communicates with her eyes/device/etc
instead of Is non-verbal
People we serve/provide services to
instead of Client, consumer, recipient, etc
Congenital disability
instead of Birth defect
Brain injury
instead of Brain damaged
Accessible parking, hotel room, etc
instead of Handicapped parking, hotel room, etc
She needs or she uses
instead of She has a problem with /She has special needs
In addition to the thread here: http://msworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=132261 I found some additional resources.
Language is ever evolving and I learn so much from these resources and I wanted to share with you guys. Some food for thought.
Do the words used to describe you have an impact on your life? You bet! Contrary to the age-old "sticks and stones" lesson we learned as children, words do matter!
For too long, people who happen to have conditions we call "disabilities" have been subjected to devaluation, marginalization, prejudice, and more. And the first way to devalue someone is through language, by using words or labels to identify a person/group as "less-than," as "the others—not like us," and so forth. Once a person/group has been identified this way, it makes it easier to justify prejudice and discrimination. Our language shapes our attitudes; our attitudes shape our language; they're intertwined. And our attitudes and language drive our actions!
Using People First Language—putting the person before the disability—and eliminating old, prejudicial, and hurtful descriptors, can move us in a new direction. People First Language is not political correctness; instead, it demonstrates good manners, respect, the Golden Rule, and more—it can change the way we see a person, and it can change the way a person sees herself!
For too long, people who happen to have conditions we call "disabilities" have been subjected to devaluation, marginalization, prejudice, and more. And the first way to devalue someone is through language, by using words or labels to identify a person/group as "less-than," as "the others—not like us," and so forth. Once a person/group has been identified this way, it makes it easier to justify prejudice and discrimination. Our language shapes our attitudes; our attitudes shape our language; they're intertwined. And our attitudes and language drive our actions!
Using People First Language—putting the person before the disability—and eliminating old, prejudicial, and hurtful descriptors, can move us in a new direction. People First Language is not political correctness; instead, it demonstrates good manners, respect, the Golden Rule, and more—it can change the way we see a person, and it can change the way a person sees herself!
Full PDF: disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl09.pdf
Examples of people-first language
People with disabilities
instead of The handicapped or disabled
Paul has a cognitive disability (diagnosis)
instead of He’s mentally retarded
Kate has autism (or a diagnosis of)
instead of She’s autistic
Jose has Down syndrome (or a diagnosis of)
instead of He’s Down’s; a Down’s person; mongoloid
Sara has a learning disability (diagnosis)
instead of She’s learning disabled
Bob has a physical disability (diagnosis)
instead of He’s a quadriplegic/is crippled
Maria uses a wheelchair/mobility chair
instead of She’s confined to/is wheelchair bound
Tom has a mental health condition
instead of He’s emotionally disturbed/mentally ill
Ryan receives special ed services
instead of He’s in special ed; is a sped student/inclusion student
LaToya has a developmental delay
instead of She’s developmentally delayed
Children without disabilities
instead of Normal/healthy/typical kids
Communicates with her eyes/device/etc
instead of Is non-verbal
People we serve/provide services to
instead of Client, consumer, recipient, etc
Congenital disability
instead of Birth defect
Brain injury
instead of Brain damaged
Accessible parking, hotel room, etc
instead of Handicapped parking, hotel room, etc
She needs or she uses
instead of She has a problem with /She has special needs
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