[nabs-l] Disability Language

[Kaiti Shelton]

Thanks, Arielle, for that information.  I'll definitely look up that article.

It definitely makes sense to use whatever terminology each person is
comfortable with, including one's self as a clinician.  I'd argue that
using person first language is not always setting the best
professional example because too often professionals are out of touch
with how disability is a part of a person's identity.  I'd also argue
that in cases where that person feels their disability is a part of
who their, E.G, blind person or an autistic person, then it could be
less empowering to call them, "A person who is blind/has autism."
Personally I'm annoyed by person first language when it is being used
on me because to me it signifies that the person is being overly
cautious with me, and I'll do what Arielle talked of doing but in
reverse.  I'll refer to myself as, "A blind person," so that the
others around me know it is okay to use identity first language with
me.

So far I have done the other thing Arielle described, and that is I do
make sure I listen to clients and how they want their
disability/condition to be referred to.  I know one client I came
across in volunteer work who's family preferred "Legally blind," while
another preferred "visually impaired."  I do strive to honor those
personal choices, but I also want to have my own personal choice of
how I refer to myself honored.

On 7/25/15, justin williams via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> While operating in the field, I am careful to set the best example for my
> consumer. Often times, consumers use names such as physically disabled, or
> deaf, or something such as that.  They use the terminology given to them by
> those who while well meaning, are not in touch with the day to day maneusha
> which goes along with having a disability.  I am careful to usualy stay in
> the professional guidelines unless doing so will cause undo stress.  I've
> noticed that when I use person first language, the consumer becomes more
> empowered and is more inclined to take control of their life.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
> Silverman via nabs-l
> Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2015 12:57 AM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [nabs-l] Disability Language
>
> Hi Kaiti and all. I read an article recently about disability language
> which
> was published in the journal American Psychologist and authored by Dana
> Dunn, a prominent disability psychologist. Basically, the article described
> how language preferences are changing. As others have pointed out, there is
> a lot of debate about whether to use person-first ("person who is blind")
> or
> identity-first ("blind person"). What Dr. Dunn recommends is that
> clinicians
> should simply ask clients what term they prefer and use those terms
> (honoring different clients with different terms, if necessary). So you
> would not automatically need to call your client a person with a disability
> unless he/she explicitly prefers that language. I have noticed that the
> vast
> majority of people I meet/exchange emails with who have autism want to be
> called "autistic people" and the only people I know who use the term
> "people
> with autism" are non-autistic people. So, I regularly use the term
> "autistic
> person" because that seems to be the majority preference for those who are
> actually part of that group. If a particular autistic person or family
> objects, then I will switch to their term of choice. I also use the term
> "blind person" to describe myself and others in the blindness community.
> When I talk to parents of blind children, I try to listen to their terms
> and
> follow their language (even if it's "visually impaired"). I think honoring
> language and building common language is a part of building rapport and
> trust with others.
> Arielle
>
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-- 
Kaiti Shelton
University of Dayton-Music Therapy
President, Ohio Association of Blind Students 2013-Present
Secretary, The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts
Division 2015-2016

"You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back!"