LESSON #3: LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND ETIQUETTE

Language:

How we refer to people is important. Read and think about the terms listed below:

Are any of these terms appropriate and respectful to use? When you think about these terms, what images come to mind?  Do they make you think about the person as an individual with unique skills and competencies or do they make you focus on the disability rather than the person?

The reality is none of the above terms are very respectful or appropriate to use.

Words are very powerful and a society's word choice often reflects its values. At one time, it was acceptable to refer to people with disabilities by their disability (e.g., the blind man; the retarded child). We focused on the disability and devalued a person's abilities or individuality. No one wants to be stereotyped based on one characteristic, especially when that characteristic produces pity, fear, or discomfort in others.  

"The term "handicapped" came into use to describe people with disabilities – any disability – in the early 20th century. Most people with disabilities do not like this term. The term handicapped derived from the time when people with disabilities were limited to begging for a living, with their caps held out in their hands. Although this term is inaccurate in today's world, many people continue to use the term despite its negative connotation.

Today, referring to someone by his or her disability is thought of as depersonalizing. The term "disabled people" or "the disabled" also is discouraged, since they suggest that a disability is a person's defining feature. Instead people with disabilities prefer "person first" language (i.e., "person with a disability"). By putting the "person" before the "disability," we tend to focus on the individual before the disability." (Baum, et al., 2004) Even better, just refer to people by their names (Tim, Sharon, Carmen, etc.) and avoid categorizing them. Let's try some examples of using respectful language.

 

Activity: Match the term with more respectful language:

 

Drag the more respectful language from the bottom to match with their less respectful counterpart in the slots on the right.
Answers
 

 


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