People First language

[brekin67]

I like People First language when speaking of adults or children with disabilities. Example: My daughter who has autism, instead of my autistic daughter. My mother who has mental illness, instead of my mentally ill mother. Or, my child who has Asperger, instead of my Asperger child.
I just feel like sharing those thoughts, for no particular reason and not aimed at anyone.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't think you will get much disagreement with that.

I am going to move this thread to the disABILITIES Community Board. That board is more for general discussions that don't involve WDW.

 

[Libbyt]

Here's an interesting perspective on the language of disabilities that we all use......

My daughter, who is 19 and has "special needs" (the term I guess I use most frequently), recently told me that she doesn't like that phrase. I told her that special needs is considered one of the most acceptable terms, and we talked about the history of the word "handicapped", etc. She told me she prefers the term "mentally challenged" and I asked her why. She said "because people like me need more mental challenges so we can work harder and be more like other people." I was momentarily rendered speechless. It made me think about the word "challenged" and how we, in our efforts to be politically correct, have turned that word into a euphemism for disability, yet she sees a challenge as something very positive, and a vehicle for self-improvement.

A lot of the time, her thoughts aren't nearly that clear, but then along come these moments of incredible insight that stop me in my tracks!

 

[bookwormde]

I agree with your methodology. With the autism spectrum genetics I take it one step further. Since it is a multigenerational naturally occurring variation (not a mutation or genetic damage or distortion) I use the word “is” instead of “has” since it is not a disease and is not something to “cure”. It gives a much better understanding of what it is to be on the spectrum since it is truly a “different existence” to the NT version. Would you say someone has tall or has “Irish”, no unless you wanted to prejudge it as a negative characteristic, it is the same with Autism genetics.

bookwormde

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I have weird things with people first language because my exposure and views of disability politics have been influenced by both the American and British disability rights movements.

The examples given above make perfect sense to me. I would always say "person with autism" or "person with cerebral palsy/blindness/etc." Where I differ from the typical American speech, however, is in "person with a disability" vs "disabled person". I identify as a "person with an impairment" and a "disabled person". (In the US generally you just say PWD instead of "disabled person) This comes out of UK disability politics where you are a "person with an impairment" (whether it's physical/mental/emotional/sensory/etc.) because of whatever medical condition you have, however you are a "disabled person" because of how society disables you by limiting you because of your impairment. For example, as a wheelchair user I am disabled because so many places have stairs. The fact that my legs don't work right, is my impairment. It's an interesting distinction that I'd love to find work its way into American usage because then you can talk about fixing disability without necessarily fixing impairment. I do sometimes use PWD, mostly when I'm in the US and trying not to offend anyone.

And for the record I cannot stand the term "special needs" or really "special" anything when it comes to impairment/disability. It's not about special needs, it's about equal needs. Kids with impairments still need school in some form like kids who don't have impairments, it's not a special need, it's accommodating to reach the equal need.

Oops. Sorry for the essay, but this is stuff that's pretty close to my heart. I wrote my senior thesis on a disability-related topic and have considered doing a masters in disability studies.

 

[brekin67]

I was watching 20/20 or dateline the other night and a young man said " I am Special because I am Normal." I like that. I work for OK DHS with people who have develomental disbilities, and were part of a class action lawsuit. (Hissom Class Members.) Our office does realy well with people first language, except I hear people say "The down's girl or the down's boy."

 

[KPeveler]

I find that I hate the term "differently abled." I have no different abilities due to my illness/disability. I have no problem having a disability, and identifying as a person with a disability. I do not have some secret super power - I have a genetic disorder that impairs my ability to function in the world.

I HATE when i hear people at airports and such say "I have a wheelchair for Gate 22." NO - I have a wheelchair, YOU have a person/guest/customer with a wheelchair!!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

When I'm talking about other people I do tend to use people first language, but when it's myself I really don't care. I'm diabetic or a diabetic. It's much easier to me than saying I have diabetes, and that is a part of who I am now.

 

[SueM in MN]

one of the problems I have is that it is difficult to make a sentence sometimes that applies to everyone.
If you want to address some information to people with autism, you can say that.
If you want to address it to people with mobility disabilities, you can say that (although, some people don't like the word "disabilities").
If you want to address it to people with diabetes, you can say that.

It gets hard though when you want to address lots of people with different disabilities/conditions.

Some don't like "Special Needs".
Some who think "Special Needs" is OK don't like "Disabilities".
Some like "Differently Abled" and other people have said it makes them feel like people expect they have different abilities than other people (as KPeveler mentioned).
One magazine aimed at parents of children with disabilities is called "Exceptional Parent." I've never known what to think of that - are the using the meaning "great"? or that our children are "Exceptions to the usual"?
Just what does it mean?

Anyway, my biggest difficulty is talking to groups of people with different disabilities/conditions and trying to use words that all find acceptable.

 

[jezaduck24]

Thank you all for your comments. I have always tried to be sensitive and respectful to how I speak about and interact with people who are different than me in any way. As a mother of a child who has recently been diagnosed with Asperger's, I am really interested in communicating to others by my language that he is just a child who reacts differently to his world and how to ......I guess - normalize or demistify- his needs to others. I'm learning so much from this board. Thank you all

 

[BeckyScott]

I am actually better at using Person First when I'm talking than when I'm writing. Seems backwards. I think it's because I'm a lazy typist. Person first uses more words. I guess when I'm talking I don't care if it's more words, but I don't like the extra exercise for my fingers.

I kinda flip back and forth between disabled and special needs, depending on the reason. Since the government and the schools use the word disabled, I go that route when I'm dealing with that stuff. In just normal life, I use special needs. In my head, and I'm sure this isn't exactly right so I apologize in advance, being "disabled" is more extreme than having "special needs". To me, disabled is something you have to qualify for and not everyone qualifies. For example-- SSI, or Medicaid for Disabled Children, or IDEA or ADA. I know those are government-related and that the government tends to not use the most caring language. But for those things, having a disablility that is pretty minor doesn't count. And even within those, there can be disagreement (DS qualifies for some but not all). By contrast, being special needs can be anything from something major all the way to an LD or mild SID, which is definately an issue but by some standards wouldn't qualify as a disability. Does that make any sense at all? I know what I mean, I'm just having trouble putting it into words.

 

[Libbyt]

BeckyScott, I get your reasoning EXACTLY! I think it's because of always, for years, trying to figure out where my dd fits on that "disability scale", plus the fact that I work with families in the early intervention/early childhood education/family support field. I'm always doing that with other families and kids too - trying to calculate all the services they could possibly qualify for and what's the best route for them to take to get services. But at the end of the day, a child is always a child first (or a person first), no matter what their particular needs are.

I work a lot with child care providers, and sometimes they get anxious about "doing" inclusion. The environment rating scales we use to assess classrooms specify that a teacher should be attuned to and accommodating the individual needs of EVERY child in the room..........if you're doing that, you're "doing" inclusion - it's not rocket science (usually!!)

 

[BeckyScott]

Libby, I remember the day...

DS was in Early Intervention, and we finally got in for an eval and got a diagnosis. The first thing everyone told me was to go apply for SSI. So I did. And it was only about two weeks later, we got the approval letter.

The day we got that, I was driving oldest DS to preschool, and had the letter with me. I think it was the combination of the letter from SSI and the fact that we'd just gotten an official diagnosis and I was in one of those stages of grief, but for some reason the SSI made it "real". I just remember thinking that if the government thought that DS was disabled, then that meant it must be true, that it must be real, that we were at a whole different level now. For some reason, it hit me even harder than the day of the diagnosis, or maybe just added to the top of everything, that was the moment I cracked. Like 10 minutes earlier he was this little kid with a diagnosis, and all of a sudden now he was capital-D Disabled. (and I know, he's the same kid, I get that, but at the moment... )

 

[SuperTrouper]

I have autism/I am autistic. You pick, I don't care.

Now, saying that I'm disabled... that gets me. If we're talking crowded malls or navigated a bus route, okay, you got me. I'm disabled. But if you want to do some calculus, chemistry, spelling, bench press or go run a half marathon... prepare to get your butt beat!

Now who's "dis" abled?!

Just sayin'...

 

[bookwormde]

Supertrouper,

Welcome form another aspie, albeit an ancient one.

I hear what you are saying; I always view it as more of a discrimination issue (having to live in a social structure designed for the comfort of the NT majority) than a disability issue.

Scanned your blog, pretty neat.

bookwormde

 

[SuperTrouper]

Bookworm, do you think that if society were arranged somehow differently, that you could function just fine?

I... couldn't. I fully accept that it's me and not society (we're not talking "fault" here, though). Granted, I wish society would accept that my differences aren't in my control, but a lot of what I struggle with, I would struggle with no matter what. Society could be not structured in such a way that I could function as an independent adult. At least not yet.

That could be because I'm a few steps down the ladder from Asperger's, though. Maybe with the very mildest part of the spectrum what you're saying is true-- that some societal adjustments would allow some people on the autism spectrum to lead much more comfortable lives. I guess I'm "autistic enough," though, that it's not going to work that way for me. Just a thought.

 

[alizesmom]

The language doesn't bother me much as long as a diagnosis isn't turned into a derogatory comment. I do understand thought that some people are bothered by how people refer to them. The problem is that not everyone agrees on what is acceptible so I prefer to speak from my comfort level and if I find it bothers someone then I try to accomodate him/her. I do admit that when I started reading this thread that one specific example jumped into my mind and I can't get rid of it. Can you imagine calling a person with glasses a "glassed person"? Yes, I know I have an odd sense of humor. Karen

 

[bookwormde]

OT

Supertrouper,

I was not talking in terms of a few adjustments to NT society, but a ground up theoretical build of a civilization (not a “society”). This analysis requires a full understanding of the differentiation between characteristics and manifestations. I have had the wonderful gift of having an Aspergers child and the opportunity to create an imperfect model of this world for my child to “recover” in so he is ready to face the world,in as it is in a healthy a fashion as possible. It is truly a magical thing to see him in his world with the unbounded joy he exhibits, his thirst for knowledge and wisdom, and his care and concern of the universe around him.
The symbiotic relationship between NT and aspie is quite complicated also, despite the “abuse” that we have suffered historically form the NT society, interfacing our gifts with NT societal drives has probably accelerated the development of our support structures and intellectual understanding by many millennium ahead of what would have occurred naturally given what we would have accomplished on our own, so as with all things there is a trade off.

Any deeper discussion is probably more suited for “wrong planet” than this forum.

bookwormde

 

[KPeveler]

i was just looking at my open mouse bookk and the cover says it is for travelers with "extra challenges." I realized i liked the term "extra challenges" better than special needs... I dunno why, but I think it sounds better, perhaps because there is no baggage attached to it yet...