|
|
|  People First Language "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." ~Mark Twain What is People First Language? People First Language is the respectful way to speak about people with disabilities by putting the person before the disability. The disability is only one part of the whole person. People First Language allows for the focus to be on the person and their strengths, abilities and potential to realize their dreams. When we put the disability first, we unfairly, and probably unconsciously, label the individual, and labels contribute to negative stereotypes. Unless it is significant to the conversation, you don't even need to refer to the disability. Remember to concentrate on getting to know the person - not the disability. Examples - People First Language | Say: | Instead of: | person with a disabiity, people with cognitive (or intellectual) disabilities | physically challenged, intellectually challenged, retarded | person with a disability, people with disabilities | handicapped person, the handicapped, handicapped | person with a physical disability, person who uses a wheelchair | crippled, confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound, wheelchair use | person with epilepsy, person with a seizure disorder | epileptic | person with Down syndrome | mongoloid | person who is deaf, person who is nonverbal, person who uses an alternative communication | deaf and dumb, deaf mute | person with cerebral palsy | cerebral palsied, spastic |
-from Guide to Understanding Developmental Disabilities published by the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities http://www.nc-ddc.org/ | |
|