Sweetie's Mom
Sweetie's Mom
New England
Female
Married

People First - Pictures Later

Posted: 6/23/2008 at 03:14 PM

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I know. I'm sorry. I promised pictures of Sweetie's Half Birthday Party today. I have them! There are many great shots! A fun time was had by all!

But... if you'll indulge me, I have something more pressing to discuss today.

The thing is this: Basically, I was called out by an individual who is an advocate for people with disabilities for not using People First language in our email correspondence.

I do not know if this individual herself is disabled. And I know for a fact that she didn't know I have a physical disability.

But she knows now.

It's a long story, but I can sum it up by saying I contacted this woman as a potential contributor to the magazine I'm editing. Within that email, I made mention of the "disabled community" as well as "disabled youth". She wrote back, stating how important it is that I use People First language, as one's disability is only a part of what makes up what an individual is all about.

I kindly, respectfully wrote back. I explained that I myself am a woman with a disiability (mind you, it's only because of her comment that I even stated it that way - I normally would have said I'm a disabled woman). I wrote about my spina bifida and the physical limitations I have. But I also made note of all the great things I've accomplished in my life.

And I especially made it clear that, no matter how I or anyone else refers to me, I know for myself that I am so much more than my disability. My spina bifida does not, nor has ever, defined who I am as a person. 

Call me whatever you like. Make note of my disability or not. Makes no matter to me. I am who I am because of my family, because of my education, because of my personal interests, skills and passions.

I understand and respect the People First idea, and I most certainly will use this language in the future. I know it is a sensitive topic.

But, for me - I don't care. I know who I am and what I'm about. The end.  

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  • cherylberyl wrote on Jun 23, 2008 at 1:56 PM

    I also have mixed feelings about people first language. A lot of it is just because it's rather a mouthful. I prefer to say that I have CP and that I'm bipolar.


    Person w/cp


    person w/bipolar


    Don't those just sound odd to you? Anyway, isn't 'disabled community' the PC way to say it? I thought that's what all we insider people have always called ourselves.


  • Sweetie's Mom wrote on Jun 23, 2008 at 2:14 PM

    Exactly! It IS a mouthful! And as a writer/editor, I'm always looking for the most efficient use of language.


    I personally feel it has a lot to do with non-disabled people doing what they think is PC - thinking they're doing a great service to disabled people to make sure we feel included.


    Me? I'm sensitive, for sure. But as far as how others classify me - I have better things to worry about than that. :)


  • » People First - Pictures Later wrote on Jun 23, 2008 at 7:58 PM

    Pingback from  » People First - Pictures Later


  • Betti wrote on Jun 27, 2008 at 10:40 AM

    I used to call myself gimpy or disabled.  Who cares, I thought - I know I don't define myself as a wheelchair user.  Now I do use People First language at times because it keeps me from ever beginning to identify with my muscular dystrophy.  My daughter pointed out that I do not identify with it so it would be good to express it the way I think it.  A good point, I thought with motherly pride, since our language reflects what we think and to an extent influences our thoughts.


    I do not tell other people to use it - it is up to them!  And it can be taken too seriously.  When I am with people who know me, I will call myself gimpy or penguin because I deal with everything with humor.  If I couldn't laugh about my life as a rockin' roller, I would be in deep, deep doo doo!


    Now, where are your pix, disabled lady?  :)


  • Whitney wrote on Jun 30, 2008 at 7:21 PM

    To me this runs along the same lines as being politically correct, which I never have been.  And because of the way I present myself to people, they usually never need for me to define for them verbally the way I think about myself.  If people want to use People First language that's fine, but I sure hope no one tries to correct me on how I refer to myself.


  • Ettina wrote on Aug 17, 2008 at 7:37 PM
    • view profile
    For me, I call myself an autistic person because the features described by autism (especially the particular subtype I have, unfortunately named pathological demand avoidance) are also central features to my identity.
  • SweetiesMom wrote on Aug 19, 2008 at 2:57 PM
    Writer and all around "cool dad" Robert Rummel-Hudson - author of Schuyler's Monster -
  • SweetiesMom wrote on Aug 23, 2008 at 10:05 AM
    Geesh! I am all a-twitter. And not in a good way. Not only is the tingly/odd sensation back - yet again