Comments on: A Word about Disability Terminology https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-word-about-disability-terminology/ Changing the Cultural Conversation Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:19:17 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 By: Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-word-about-disability-terminology/#comment-143 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:19:17 +0000 https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/a-word-about-disability-terminology/#comment-143 In reply to naomi Mitchum.

Naomi, you are incorrect. “Person with a disability” is person-first language, since the word “person” is first. “Disabled person” is identity-first language, because disability is the social identity connoted by the term; we are disabled by inaccessible environments. A lot of us prefer identity-first, and that’s what I use in my writing here. If I’m putting together a piece for a site that requires person-first language, or if I know that a particular audience prefers it, I’ll use it, but on my own blog, I use the language I am most comfortable with.

]]> By: Aimee https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-word-about-disability-terminology/#comment-142 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:19:07 +0000 https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/a-word-about-disability-terminology/#comment-142 I’m personally not into terminology…

All thought; I do think and believe that, I am a person first. Than the word that society or majority have labeled me as… There for requiring something different like; exceptionality, functionality, visible, invisible disables are that just words to show how hard it is for one person or group of people to do something….

I cannot read… But I can see…
I cannot write… But you can read this…
I cannot understand… But I hear the words…
I can walk… But I don’t know where to go
I can fight but know what for…

]]> By: naomi Mitchum https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-word-about-disability-terminology/#comment-141 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:19:00 +0000 https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/a-word-about-disability-terminology/#comment-141 Your preference for identity-first language should read, “person with a disability” that is the identity of the person first if you are writing for the public. For yourself, suit yourself, and stick to it, but in the 25 years I’ve been disabled, I’ve learned that it really is not important to ME.

The latest government term is “functional disability,” but it hasn’t caught on elsewhere.

]]> By: Sarah https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-word-about-disability-terminology/#comment-140 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:18:53 +0000 https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/a-word-about-disability-terminology/#comment-140 I’m so glad you wrote this. I am a strong supporter of calling people what they prefer to be called, but I often feel intimidated when I don’t know what the preferred terminology in a particular microcommunity might be. It is terribly offputting for someone who is already a supporter to be sidelined for something that is not the focus of the main issue, so how bad must it be for people who are maybe ready to open up to understanding this way of thinking when they see an argument like that?

Not sure if I made sense, but thanks. I appreciate it.

]]> By: julesinrose https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-word-about-disability-terminology/#comment-139 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:18:47 +0000 https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/a-word-about-disability-terminology/#comment-139 I’d really love to understand why this is such a problem. I’ve been criticized for calling MYSELF whatever I call myself by people who have no (visible) disabilities… I simply say “I’m disabled.” Does that mean I don’t think I’m a person? Nope. Most of the people who have pointed that out to me don’t treat me as if I am one, however.

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