What is People-First Language? Just as the term would imply, this language trend involves putting the person first, not the disability (e.g. a person with a disability, not a disabled person). Thus, people-first language tells us what conditions people have, not what they are (Schiefelbusch Institute, 1996). Other suggestions for referring to those with disabilities include:
- avoiding generic labels (people with schizophrenia rather than schizophrenics);
- emphasizing abilities, not limitations (for instance, uses a wheelchair is preferable to confined to a wheelchair);
- avoiding euphemisms (such as physically challenged) which are regarded as condescending and avoid the real issues that result from a disability;
- and avoiding implying illness or suffering (had polio is preferable to is a polio victim, and has multiple sclerosis is preferable to suffers from multiple sclerosis) (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2000; Schiefelbusch Institute, 1996).
1. Her daughter is autistic.
2. The ARC is an organization that helps the intellectually handicapped.
3. I took a class about learning disabled children.
4. Gallaudet is a college for the deaf.
5. A learning disabilities teacher has many opportunities to help the mentally challenged.
6. I donate money to organizations that help the handicapped.
7. After suffering a spinal cord injury, he became a paraplegic and was confined to a wheelchair.
8. He is a polio victim who currently suffers from post-polio syndrome.
9. We saw a video about a schizophrenic woman.
10. She is afflicted with multiple sclerosis and is bedridden.
11. He was crippled from birth.
12. There was a blind girl in my calculus class.
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