Person-First Language: Difficulties and Solutions with Putting People First

• Main Author: Primeau, Casey Anne
• Other Authors: Oland, Lynne
• Language: en_US
• Published: The University of Arizona. 2016
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/613459; http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/613459

Person-first language is often labeled as the gold-standard method for writing about and addressing people who have disabilities. The goal of person-first language is to put a person before their disability and emphasize other aspects of who a person is beyond their disability. This goal offers a more appropriate option in lieu of using some of the insensitive and offensive terminology that often has been used to describe individuals with disabilities. Though thought of as a neutral and respectful method of referencing individuals with disabilities, there are still many flaws and objections to its use. A different method, disability-first language, involves calling someone a “disabled person” rather than a “person with a disability.” This method of reference contends with person-first language as many people with disabilities feel that it reflects the fact that their impairment is part of who they are. Preference between person-first and disability-first language varies across disability groups. The debate remains whether people should opt to use person-first language or disability-first language. No preference has been documented yet amongst people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but interviews conducted in this study show that person-first language might be an appropriate option to use in general with this population.