Response to People First
Ashley Grubbs
Mrs. Fondren
EDX 3213 07
27 August 2013
A New Paradigm—A New Life Every day is a new day. One wakes up and often times has no idea of the day may have in store for them. For many though, the progression of the day lies mainly in the actions of others. For example, the day for a young girl who has a learning disability may be different depending on the words of those around her and the impact that those words may have. No one person should have to suffer or worry about suffering because he or she may have a disability of some kind. Whenever I was young, I remember being called the “smart kid” in school. Even though I was thankful for my intellectual abilities, I felt almost discriminated upon every time I was called by my label. I felt that it was necessary to “dumb” myself down so that I would not receive that attention that I did not want. Having a descriptor made me feel like less of a person and more like a thing. I was no longer and individual to my classmates, but instead, I was some sort of object. Looking back on the past, I realize that those insecurities I had developed and the insecurities that others develop due to their own labels could have easily been prevented by using People First Language. With People First Language, a child with disabilities doesn’t have to feel like they are their disability. Their disability doesn’t make them who they are; they have their own identity and shouldn’t be judged by any impairment they may have. In “A Few Words About People First Language,” Kathie Snow says that “a person’s self-image is tied to the words used about him.” This statement is the main one that caused me to reflect on my past and to bring it into relation to the lives of others. Although disabilities or individuals with disabilities have not had many impacts on my life, I am empathetic to what someone may go through in everyday living. This is why for the remainder of life, I will always put “people first” by using a
Mrs. Fondren
EDX 3213 07
27 August 2013
A New Paradigm—A New Life Every day is a new day. One wakes up and often times has no idea of the day may have in store for them. For many though, the progression of the day lies mainly in the actions of others. For example, the day for a young girl who has a learning disability may be different depending on the words of those around her and the impact that those words may have. No one person should have to suffer or worry about suffering because he or she may have a disability of some kind. Whenever I was young, I remember being called the “smart kid” in school. Even though I was thankful for my intellectual abilities, I felt almost discriminated upon every time I was called by my label. I felt that it was necessary to “dumb” myself down so that I would not receive that attention that I did not want. Having a descriptor made me feel like less of a person and more like a thing. I was no longer and individual to my classmates, but instead, I was some sort of object. Looking back on the past, I realize that those insecurities I had developed and the insecurities that others develop due to their own labels could have easily been prevented by using People First Language. With People First Language, a child with disabilities doesn’t have to feel like they are their disability. Their disability doesn’t make them who they are; they have their own identity and shouldn’t be judged by any impairment they may have. In “A Few Words About People First Language,” Kathie Snow says that “a person’s self-image is tied to the words used about him.” This statement is the main one that caused me to reflect on my past and to bring it into relation to the lives of others. Although disabilities or individuals with disabilities have not had many impacts on my life, I am empathetic to what someone may go through in everyday living. This is why for the remainder of life, I will always put “people first” by using a