Person First Language:
Person First Language is language used to describe ability. Person First Language places the person before hir* disability/exceptional** characteristic(s) to emphasize hir distinct personhood, to recognize disability/exceptional characteristic(s) do not encompass a person's entire or essential identity (Snow, 2009).
**hir = gender neutral pronoun
*note: Here "exceptional" means different. Exceptional learners have specific learning needs, which distinguish them from the student population at large.
**hir = gender neutral pronoun
*note: Here "exceptional" means different. Exceptional learners have specific learning needs, which distinguish them from the student population at large.
Why use it?
Using Person First Language helps to conceptualize disability in a positive way. Person First Language stresses a student's disability simply reflects hir difference in ability. Disability has a positive connotation when Person First Language is used and people can, therefore, better understand persons with disabilities are more like people without disabilities than unhelpful stereotypes suggest.
Examples of Person First Language:
What to say:
*They (singular) = gender neutral pronoun |
What NOT to say:
|
References:
Snow. K. (2009). Examples of people first language. Retrieved from www.disabilityisnatural.com
Snow. K. (2009). Examples of people first language. Retrieved from www.disabilityisnatural.com