The difference between the almost-right word & the right word is…the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.

—Mark Twain

Language

It’s all about respect and dignity, not political correctness!

—Kathie Snow

Person-First Language

Person-First Language

Puts the person before the disability

Describes what a person has, not who a person is

Reflects good manners, not “political correctness”

Was started by individuals who said “We are not our disabilities!”

—Kathie Snow

What to say, and what to avoid

Words and Phrases

Words and Phrases

Things to AvoidAppropriate Alternatives

Handicapped

Disabled, crippled, invalid, gimp

Special Needs

Mental Retardation

Accessible

Person with a disability

Refer to Kathie Snow

Intellectual Disability

Words and Phrases

Things to AvoidAppropriate Alternatives

Fits

Wheelchair boundConfined to a

wheelchair

Electric Chair

Birth Defect

Seizures, Epilepsy

Uses a wheelchairWheelchair user

Power Chair

Born with

Words and Phrases

Things to AvoidAppropriate Alternatives

Victim or Afflicted with

Normal

Person who has or Person with

Non-disabled, able-bodied

How am I supposed to know?

Sandy and Sarah

http://www.thesarahjanestory.com/photos/most_recent02.html

And other things not to say

If your faith had been stronger…

—Kathie Sheetz, That All May Worship, 1997

Think before you speak…“If your faith had been stronger, you would

have been healed long ago.”

“Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.”

“I’ll pray for you.”

“God must have had a reason for this tragedy happening to you and your family. But, God never gives us more than we can bear.”

And getting answers

Asking Questions

Consider this…

“Listen to the straight questions of children about my chair. They’re great! They want to know what happened to me, how fast I can go in the chair, how it works, what I can do with it, and whether I hurt. They’re into real questions! Adults at the church coffee hour clam up, look the other way, act embarrassed, and try to shoo the children away.”

—That All May Worship

Consider this…

“I’d much rather have someone deal with me directly, maybe even say the wrong thing, than to say nothing at all. Words I can handle. Being ignored is tough!”

—That All May Worship