[nagdu] People First, Please was Re: blind dog training

[The Pawpower Pack]

Language choices vary from person to person.
As an example I find the phrase "hearing impaired" incredibly  
offensive.  It is PC language developed by hearing people which  
totally disregards Deaf culture and Deaf values.  I am Deafblind,  
large D which denotes that I am culturally Deaf, use ASL (American  
Sign Language) and that I take the cultural norms of the Deafblind  
community as my own.

Many people who lost their hearing later in life, or who were raised  
oral, will refer to themselves as hearing impaired.  They honestly see  
having hearing loss as an impairment.

I try to stick with as non-offensive terminology as possible.  So for  
example, when speaking about someone who has hearing loss, I will use  
the terms either deaf or hard of hearing.
I do use person with a disability or blind/low vision (I still can't  
bring myself to use visually impaired).
I refer to myself as a Deafblind person or DBP.  I have no problem  
putting Deafblind first.
I do think that if a person is going to enter a profession working  
with people with disabilities, it is important to use neutral language  
until the consumer states a preference for one specific term or another.
Going back to my corner now.



Rox and the Kitchen Bitches:
Bristol, Mill'E, Laveau, Baylee,!

"Dance, even if you have to warn others to get out of the way first."
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