I’ve heard the expression “Person-First Language”. Where can I learn more?
Person first language means putting the person before their disability. (As an example: changing the phrase “an autistic child” to the more appropriate statement being “a child with autism”. Notice the “child” or person comes first in the statement). The following are guidelines for talking about disability:The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal and state laws work to assure that people with disabilities have the same basic rights as people without disabilities. Some things have been slow to change; namely, attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities. Ignorance and discrimination can be serious impediments to achieving integration, productivity, and independence for people with disabilities. The use of outdated language and words to describe people with disabilities contributes to the perpetuation of old stereotypes. If public opinion about people with disabilities is to be brought up to date, the public needs to hear and learn to use appropriate langua
