[Ct-nfb] Person-First Language

[tammy robbins]

Hi Justin, you bring up a very good question!  I myself do not feel it's
necessary to discuss my blindness unless I'm going for a job interview where
it could possibly be an embarrassing situation for me or the employer!  I
feel that I am a person who jut happens to be blind, not a blind person
first!  After all, I am also a person who has dark brown hair with blond
highlights but I don't feel I should have to describe myself that way!  How
do you think we can change the message that this sends?  I'd be interested
to hear anyone's ideas on this one!  take good care all!

 

Tammy

 

 

 

From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Justin
Salisbury via Ct-nfb
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 8:20 PM
To: 'ct-nfb at nfbnet.org'
Subject: [Ct-nfb] Person-First Language

 

Fellow Federationists:

 

In many circles in the disability community, there has come to be a practice
of referring to ourselves as "people with disabilities" or "people who are
blind" instead of "blind people." 

 

What message does this send, and why do we not have a practice of saying
"woman who is blonde," or, for that matter, "person who is female and
blonde?" Why do we not say "person who is male and short" instead of "short
man?" What is it that is different about a disability that necessitates
placing the adjective after the noun?

 

Yours in Federationism,

 

Justin Salisbury

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