Hello everyone!
This month, we are raising awareness for Person First Language.
When we are communicating with and about people with disabilities, we should always use Person First Language. This form of language emphasizes the person, NOT the disability. All people have their own individualized goals, interests, and abilities, whether they have a disability or not. Person First Language allows us to look at these individual characteristics rather than the disability. In addition, it prevents us from thinking that a disability is a person’s all-encompassing characteristic. Some of our students with disabilities are dancers, drawers, singers, and soccer players. Our students are so much more than just their “disability.”
Examples of Person First Language are:
- “A child with autism” rather than “autistic child.”
- “A person who uses a wheelchair” rather than “wheelchair-bound person.”
- “A student with Down Syndrome” rather than “Down Syndrome student.”
Here are some ways to discuss Person First Language with your child:
- Give them some examples of incorrect ways to address an individual with a disability and allow your child to correctly fix it using Person First Language.
- Have your child research news articles relating to individuals with disabilities and see if the writer used Person First Language. If the child finds that the writer did not use Person First Language, allow them to fix the phrase.
- Have your child list his/her roles in life (i.e. brother, sister, daughter, son, friend, student, grandson/daughter). Then have your child list his/her characteristics or interests (i.e. blue eyes, red hair, soccer player, dancer). Finally, have your child use Person First Language to describe him/her (i.e. “I am an older brother who has red hair).
- Have open discussions about the importance of empathy and sensitivity to all people.
- Describe the meaning of “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.”
- Discuss the importance of feeling valued.
Raising awareness for this type of language will ensure that ALL students/people feel comfortable and valued.