On Language and Disability: Some Considerations

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 17:21:31 -0500
claiming, cure, disability, diversity, education, first, fixed, garland, handicap, heumann, identity, journalism, language, person, rosemary, say, special, the, thompson, word, writing

Words matter, especially when it comes to disability, and oftentimes, our department engages in both formal and informal outreach and informal communication about how disability - as an identity, a function of identity, concept and experience. - is communicated. While the National Center on Disability and Journalism has a Disability Language Style Guide (linked here) remains an excellent in-depth resource, it's good to cover some basics.

The two primary ways that we identify with disability in language are person first (person who uses a hearing aid) and identity first (Sandra Mae Frank is a Deaf actor). Both options have implications for how we, as a community, think about disability, and it is important, when working with individuals to glean their preference for either centering on identity, or identifying as a person first, which can create distance, especially based on their lived experiences to date. Someone with a person-first perspective may state, "I identify as a person with a disability to separate my Self from the stereotypes and stigma that others associate with disability."

Similarly, identity-first language challenges the miasma of negativity by claiming disability directly. This directness embraces the diversity of how brains and bodies work, and the how inaccessible systems, structures and environments persist and are slow to evolve. It's important to emphasize that identity-first language is an option. Lenny Letter exemplifies this with "I don't have autism, I am Autistic." The National Association of the Deaf embraces identity-first language and also acknowledges that Deaf and hard-of-hearing people have the right to choose what they wish to be called.

When referencing disability, naming it explicitly is important. Accessibility and Disability Services and Student Disability Services embrace the word "disability" and work with people with any health condition that may qualify as a disability, regardless of how the person self-identifies. In the same vein, avoid coming across as condescending by not using euphemisms such as handi-capable, diverseability or differently-abled. We agree with Lawrence Carter Long's #Say the Word Campaign. Other terms have been retired or don't apply in higher education where the emphasis is access and on not being "Special" and acknowledging that "handicap" is very Last Century.

The following resources (many with direct links to content) were informed by recent communications from our professional association the Association of Higher Education and Disability/AHEAD. If you would like to explore further, check out these links and books:

● Becoming Disabled: Rosemarie Garland-Thomson*, New York Times, 2016

● Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist: Judy Heumann (Beacon, 2020)

● Brilliant Imperfection: Grappling with Cure: Eli Clare (Duke UP, 2017)

● Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity, Simi Linton (NYU Press, 1998)

● Disability as Diversity: Lilah Burke, Inside Higher Ed., 2020

● Disability Visibility Project: Alice Wong

● Disabled: Just Say the Word: Barbara J. King, NPR, 2016

● Disabled Person or Person with a Disability: Annie Elainey

● Guidelines: How to Write About People with Disabilities, University of Kansas, Research and Training Center on Independent Living

● Guidelines for Writing About People with Disabilities: ADA National Network

● Identity-First Language: Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)

● Language and Disability: Explore Access, UA Partners for Inclusive Communities

● The Language of Disability Activity: Disability as Diversity Toolkit, Explore Access, UA Partners for Inclusive Communities

● Language Guide: Disability Cultural Center, Syracuse University

● Leaving Evidence (blog): Mia Mingus

● PC Labels Do a Disservice: Stephen Stern, Inside Higher Ed., 2020

*Rosemary Garland-Thomson came to UMBC as a speaker for the Dresher Center's Humanities Forum on May 8, 2019

A photo of Scrabble letters stating "choose your words" illustrates this post. Credit: Brett Jordon via unsplash.com