TL;DR: There are three types of language that people use to describe disabilities: person-first, identify-first, and person-centered. To be most respectful, connect with individuals in the community and ask for their preference in language to use. “She suffers from cerebral palsy.” “He is ‘on the spectrum’.” “She is a person with a hearing impairment.” “He is a blind man.” There … Read More
Let’s Talk About Ableist Language
TL;DR Ableism shows up in our language and actions, even at school. It’s important to consider both identity first and people first language. Ableist language factors into our daily interactions with each other and the structures of power around us. What is ableism? People experience disability differently. There are physical, cognitive, and learning disabilities, and mental illnesses, to name a … Read More