Using People First Language

How many times in your life have you been faced with dealing with people that are labeled in one way or another whether at work or socially? Have you ever had to introduce, describe, or identify groups in a presentation, paper, or other venue? Should you be Politically Correct when doing so or should you look for another way to get your message across? I recently read an article in HR Magazine (November 2007) that talked about being politically correct and how to deal with using "appropriate labels." I'm no expert, but there were some interesting issues raised in this article and I'm sure that the author is thought to be somewhat of an authority on the subject being in Human Resources. Let's first examine what politically correct means. According to the Wiktionary¹, politically correct is an adjective that identifies "A term generally used to mock the idea that language that avoids offense can encourage, promote, or establish certain beneficial social outcomes and relationships. This mocking usage often targets certain forms of identity politics, including those based on race, gender, religion, ideology or any other social grouping such as disability."¹ In reading this definition, I would hope that you immediately notice the words mock and mocking. To me mockery is a bad thing in this case, so the connotation to being politically correct does not seem to be a good one. So, how about looking at labels from a different point of view.

There are many organizations out there that promote, among other things, the use of people first language. However, not all people with- or without disabilities like the use of this style of speaking. According to Kathy Snow of Disability is Natural, "people first language puts the person before the disability, and it describes what a person has, not who a person is." ² Kathy is a parent of a child with a disability and has made it her life's work to impress upon people that just because her son has a medical diagnosis doesn't make him less of a person.

Kathy had this to say, "Men and women with disabilities are adults, first. The only labels they need are their names! They must not talk about themselves using professional lingo. Service providers must not use terms like "MR client," "quads," and other diagnostic terms. The use of disability descriptors is appropriate only in the service system (at those ubiquitous "I" team meetings) and in medical or legal settings. Medical labels have no place---and they should be irrelevant---within families, among friends, and in the community. "²

So when you are in a place where you see a person using a wheel chair, make sure you see the PERSON using the wheel chair. Or, the STUDENT wearing glasses. Or, MY AUNT, who has Downs Syndrome.

Kathy also discussed a very important step in this as well, "The Civil Rights and Women's Movements prompted changes in language and attitudes. The Disability Rights Movement is following in those important footsteps. People First Language was created by individuals who said, "We are not our disabilities." It's not about "political correctness," but good manners and respect. Some reject People First Language, saying it's unimportant; others say they prefer descriptors like "special needs." But the feelings and preferences of people without disabilities are irrelevant. What is relevant? The feelings of the people we're talking about and the perceptions of them which we create with our words!" ²

References
¹Wiktionary, "Polically Correct", http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/politically_correct, accessed 10/31/07.
²Snow, Kathy (2007). "Disability is Natural", www.disabilityisnatural.com, accessed 10/31/07.