Module 4: Enhancing an Inclusive School Culture for Students with Complex Needs
Using Positive Language
The information and examples provided here are guidelines to assist you to use positive language when talking about students with multiple disabilities and complex needs. As the opening quote of the topic The Power of Language reminds us, there are no rules, guidelines, or handbook to tell us what the correct or best word is to use. Even if there was a handbook, it would become outdated quite quickly as language evolves over time to capture accuracy and respond to diversity with inclusive language and terms. In the absence of a handbook or steadfast guidelines, how do we ensure our word choice and language is current and respectful? Check with the individual you are talking to or about. Everyone self identifies and describes themselves differently. Asking the individual and listening to their preferences for what terms, words, and language to use is best practice. If asking the person directly is difficult, then ask someone who is close to the person such as a family member or friend. On the occasions where no one is available to ask, we recommend that you follow the guidelines of person first language.
Person First Language
Person first language describes what the person “has” not what the person “is” (Wikipedia). This approach emphasizes the individual—not the disability. Instead of saying “disabled person,” use the term “a person with a disability.” Leading with a disability is considered by many people with disabilities as labelling and negative. The following table provides some examples:
| Person First/Positive language | Labelling/Negative language |
|---|---|
| Person with a visual impairment | Blind person |
| Person with Down Syndrome | Downs person |
| Person with a physical disability | Cripple, lame, deformed, disabled person |
| Person with seizure disorder, epilepsy | Epileptic |
| Person who uses a wheelchair | Confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound |
| Person with an intellectual disability | Slow, low functioning |
| Person who uses augmentative communication, person who uses alternative methods of communication | Non-verbal, can’t talk |
The person first approach suggestions come from advocacy groups of and for people with disabilities. However, these groups and individuals are the first to tell you that this is their preference and is not necessarily a fit for everyone. In fact, some individuals and groups argue against the use of person first language, such as the Deaf, Autistic and Neurodiverse groups.
“Saying “person with autism” suggests that autism is something bad—so bad that it isn’t even consistent with being a person… We talk about left-handed people, not people with left-handedness, and about athletic or musical people, not about people with athleticism or people with musicality... It is only when someone has decided that the characteristic being referred to is negative that suddenly people want to separate it from the person.”
Jim Sinclair
The terms and words people choose to describe themselves are personal and need to be respected and honoured. How do you safeguard yourself against saying the wrong thing? As mentioned previously, check in with the person, with their family and friends, and with others who advocate for positive language.