This is a very interesting question. Two of the disadvantages of the phrasing
"person with a disability" are that it's awkward to write (not concise) and it
limits one's prose options somewhat. That said, I respect the imperative to
use language in my scholarship that people with disabilities deem appropriate
and representative; "nothing about us without us" is important in this sense
too. So now I'm most intrigued now about what kind of alternatives, or best
practices, others use in their writing. Any tips and tricks you might suggest?
Thanks
Jason.
--
Jason Ellis
Ph.D. candidate,
Department of History, York University
[log in to unmask]
Quoting Larry Arnold <[log in to unmask]>:
> Person first language is patronising and disabling language in my opinion.
> The issue seems to be resolved in the UK so far as I know in favour of
> disabled people, that is to say the disability is an active disempowering
> process rather than a personal faculty.
>
> If I wanted to disable my computer I would throw a spanner at it, and it
> would then be a computer with a disability would it? it would be knackered,
> done in, wrecked. The disabling process lies not within the individual,
> though of course negative attribution styles borne of false consciousness and
> indoctrination can well contribute to ones own assisted suicide whether
> actual or political.
>
> I may be a person with a flute at times, but not everyone who is a person
> with a flute can be a flautist. It's what you do with it that matters :)
>
> Larry
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:DISABILITY-
> > [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Emma Rowlett
> > Sent: 09 March 2009 16:41
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Terminology: disabled students v students with disabilities?
> >
> > Apologies for cross posting...
> >
> > When I started at University in 1999 the common term in use was
> > 'students with disabilities' (e.g. NUS SWD Officer) and I was told
> > that the idea behind this was putting the 'student' first (I don't
> > remember who told me this!). I know there has been a move away from
> > this in many places as "it implies that we ‘own’ the disability, while
> > it is society which disables us" (according to Lorraine Gradwell in "A
> > rose by any other name…" -
> > http://www.healthmatters.org.uk/issue32/arose).
> >
> > Do any of you know of any other literature about this, particularly
> > where 'students with disabilities' came from and why? Anything that
> > references disabled people versus people with disabilities is also
> > useful. I need to write about this in my thesis, but I also co-edit
> > the "Students with Disabilities Series" in MSOR Connections and I am
> > considering making a case for changing the name.
> >
> > Also, if you have any opinions about the two terms I'd like to hear from
> you.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Emma
> >
> > --
> > Emma Jane Rowlett (née Wright)
> > School of Sociology and Social Policy
> > University of Nottingham
> >
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > www.accessingmaterials.org.uk
> >
> > ________________End of message________________
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