Re: Financial Planning for your Disabled Child

[Guest guest]

just a thought, and not to take away from the meaning and important info offered

at that workshop...but maybe " Disabled Child " should be changed to " Child with a

Disability " ?

I started an advocacy training in Albany, we had a presenter Kathie Snow talk

about " People First Language " ...I know this thought may get some eye rolls, or

may seem extreme, but I am going to try and practice applying people first

language...

The ever so rarely politically correct but working on it,

Jennica

taken from Kathie Snow article...

.. " People First language puts the person before the disability and it describes

what a person has not what a person is "

.. " Disabled is not an appropriate descriptor, either. Our society corrupts the

meaning of words. Traffic reporters frequently use the term " disabled vehicle " .

In that context, " disabled " means " broken down " . People with disabilities are

human being and they are not broken.

.. " Words are powerful. Old, inaccurate, and inappropriate descriptions perpetuate

negative stereotypes and attitudinal barriers. When we describe people by their

labels, or medical diagnosis, we devalue and disrespect them as individuals " ...

here's a few other examples:

Say: Instead of:

a.people with disabilities a.the handicapped or disabled

b.He has a cognitive b. He's Mentally retarded

disability

c.She has autism c.She's autistic

d. He has Downs Syndrome d. He's Downs

e. she has a learning e. She's learning disabled

disability

f. He has a physical f. he's a quadriplegic/crippled

disability

g. Brain Injury g. Brain Damaged

h. She needs...or h. She has a problem with...

she uses

j. Typical Kids or kids j. Normal or healthy kids

without disabilities

k. Congenital disability k. birth defect

" and no more 'special needs' that term evokes pity and a person's needs aren't

special to him, there normal and ordinary. Keep thinking---there are many

descriptions

we need to change "