Effective use of Language
How and Why to Use People First Language Effectively
Terminology means a lot and can make a big point. When you are using special education terminology, it is important to use effective language to bolster your points.
When people of speak of those who have special needs or disabilities, that disability or need often becomes the defining character. This shouldn’t happen. Though they are only words and the speaker probably means well, there is a definite way to use terminology to make a stronger point, and that holds true in the world of special education. This is called “people first language.”
What is people first language? It is simply using the disability as a descriptor, a characteristic, instead of a definition of the person. It is very effective in special education terminology. Remember, they are people first, and most importantly, a boy, a girl, a son or daughter, then they have a disability.
Say for instance, a child with autism is being discussed. Whether it is involving placement in special education and the teachers are discussing his needs, or his parents are discussing his characteristics on a daily basis, people first language should always be used. So instead of saying “the autistic student,” “my autistic son” or “I work with the autistic,” these words should be rephrased to state the person first. For example, use words like, “I teach students that have autism,” “the student with autistic needs,” or “my child has autism.”
Using language like this lets the listener hear that the child is a child more than anything. That is his first defining characteristic, then comes autism, and it becomes a characteristic, just like hair color or love of athletics. The effect this has is a valuable, because the person needs to be treated as a person, not a disability.
Some other examples follow:
People First Language:
Not People First Language:
He has a learning disability.
The learning disabled.
The student has ADHD.
The ADHD girl.
I teach kids with special needs.
I teach special children.
John uses a wheelchair.
The wheelchair kid.
She has a hearing impairment.
The deaf girl.
Some may wonder how this matters. But semantics have a huge role in forming judgments. It may fall under the category of political correctness, or it may just be a “nicer” way to say things or it may be simply that no one wants to, or should be defined solely by their disability. People with disabilities are many other things; they may be athletes or sons or daughters, wives or husbands, professionals and students. Above all they are people first.
Using correct special education language can have a huge impact on helping others see this. In turn, the use of people first language is quite catching. The more it is used, the more it will spread and some of these bad labels and incorrect usage will fade away to more acceptable, more valuing language.
