Sheena - posted on 07/11/2009 ( 1 mom has responded )
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Hello all,
Just wanted to vent a little and educate those who don't themselves or know people who don't use People First Language what it's about. My boyfriend has a daughter with Down Syndrome and I also work with children with special needs providing therapy on a daily basis. I make a conscious effort to use this in both my professional and personal life.
People first language is about putting the person BEFORE the disability. Of course regardless of the diagnosis someone has they are a person FIRST.
So for example instead of labeling someone as autistic you would say He/She has autism. Someone with disabilities or different abilities instead of handicapped or disabled.
He/she has schizophrenia instead of a schizophrenic.
Also I try to not use the word "normal" who defines normal anyway?
So I would say something they do shows typical vs atypical development or child/adult without disabilities.
You get the idea... Now spread the word! It's not hard to do this, we just need to be more aware of our words and the labels that can be given at a young age. If those negative words are what our children are hearing from their own family that's what they are going to grow up saying and believing. Let's let them define themselves and not be defined by a diagnosis or label!
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