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One of my personal dislikes is the use of 'very severely disabled' (or similar comments); to my mind, saying that I'm a disabled person/student is enough. I find the stressing of level of disability in that way can be unhelpful/reinforce negative stereotypes. I'm not sure whether unis use it because the NHS/SS do, or whether it's to try and convey degree of disability. If the latter is the case, surely any recommendations made or the fact the staff meet the student would suffice? 2008/4/25 Claire Wickham <[log in to unmask]>: > > Arnold, > > this is not a rant: it a perfectly reasonable explanation of why "disabled > people/students" is acceptable and "students with disabilities" or "tell me > about your disabilities" is not acceptable. The social model places the > locus of responsibility firmly on society - on all of us - to become more > inclusive and to remove barriers. > > The social model encourages thinking about access requirements and how these > can be met and avoids fruitless discussion of medical history. > > ATB > > Claire > > > ________________________________ > From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on > behalf of Maiden, Arnold > Sent: Fri 25/04/2008 20:03 > > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Social v. Medical Model Terminology > > > > > Oh dear this is always so difficult to respond to as it deals with > ownership. > > I am disabled but I am disabled by the way society decides to do its > business not by my by my (multiple) impairments. To explain - if I am a > wheelchair user then my wheelchair does not disable me it enables me, I am > not wheelchair bound I am a wheelchair user; what disables me is the lack of > facilities to get in shops, to go to the loo, etc. I am sure everyone on > here understands all these arguments. > > So on to language > > I am sure that we all understand that using terms like: > The Disabled > The Blind > The Deaf > Dyslexics > etc > are best avoided as they lump people together without any consideration of > the person's individuality. > > Describing someone as a person with a disability sounds "user friendly" but > it is wrong and it is wrong because it subscribes to a medical model that > places the ownership (and responsibility) with the disabled person and not > society! > > Rant over and I hope that this helps understanding > > Arnold Maiden > Assessor & Assistive Technology Adviser > Leeds Metropolitan University > > ________________________________ > > From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on > behalf of Katy Mann > Sent: Fri 25/04/2008 16:00 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Social v. Medical Model Terminology > > > > Dear All, > > > > I know this one comes up periodically but I would be interested in what > people know to be the latest thinking on this. At a meeting this week a > member of staff said in a meeting for an external organisation, she was told > that the correct terminology was 'disabled people' and not 'people with > disabilties' when she used the term 'people with disabilties' she sent on > disability awareness training! > > > > My understanding was that the most up to date term was 'people with > disabilities' (and that this fits in with the social model) because you are > a person first. My colleague was told that it now 'Disabled people' is > 'correct' because a person is 'disabled' by society. > > > > While I believe that use of appropriate terminology is important, I am wary > of becoming a hostage to 'PC' ness but would be interested on hearing what > the latest collective thinking is regarding appropriate terminology. > > > > Many thanks. Enjoy the weekend. > > > > Katy > > > > > > Katy Mann > Disability Adviser (West End sites) > Room CG80, Chiltern Building > University of Westminster > 35 Marylebone Road > London NW1 5LS > Tel: 020 7915 5456 Fax: 020 7915 5439 > www.wmin.ac.uk/disability > > > > > > The University of Westminster is a charity and a company limited by > guarantee. Registration number: 977818 England. Registered Office: 309 > Regent Street, London W1B 2UW. > > > > > To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to > http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm > > > This incoming email to UWE has been independently scanned for viruses by > McAfee anti-virus software and none were detected > > Oh dear this is always so difficult to respond to as it deals with > ownership. > > I am disabled but I am disabled by the way society decides to do its > business not by my by my (multiple) impairments. To explain - if I am a > wheelchair user then my wheelchair does not disable me it enables me, I am > not wheelchair bound I am a wheelchair user; what disables me is the lack of > facilities to get in shops, to go to the loo, etc. I am sure everyone on > here understands all these arguments. > > So on to language > > I am sure that we all understand that using terms like: > The Disabled > The Blind > The Deaf > Dyslexics > etc > are best avoided as they lump people together without any consideration of > the person's individuality. > > Describing someone as a person with a disability sounds "user friendly" but > it is wrong and it is wrong because it subscribes to a medical model that > places the ownership (and responsibility) with the disabled person and not > society! > > Rant over and I hope that this helps understanding > > Arnold Maiden > Assessor & Assistive Technology Adviser > Leeds Metropolitan University > > ________________________________ > > From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on > behalf of Katy Mann > Sent: Fri 25/04/2008 16:00 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Social v. Medical Model Terminology > > > > Dear All, > > > > I know this one comes up periodically but I would be interested in what > people know to be the latest thinking on this. At a meeting this week a > member of staff said in a meeting for an external organisation, she was told > that the correct terminology was 'disabled people' and not 'people with > disabilties' when she used the term 'people with disabilties' she sent on > disability awareness training! > > > > My understanding was that the most up to date term was 'people with > disabilities' (and that this fits in with the social model) because you are > a person first. My colleague was told that it now 'Disabled people' is > 'correct' because a person is 'disabled' by society. > > > > While I believe that use of appropriate terminology is important, I am wary > of becoming a hostage to 'PC' ness but would be interested on hearing what > the latest collective thinking is regarding appropriate terminology. > > > > Many thanks. Enjoy the weekend. > > > > Katy > > > > > > Katy Mann > Disability Adviser (West End sites) > Room CG80, Chiltern Building > University of Westminster > 35 Marylebone Road > London NW1 5LS > Tel: 020 7915 5456 Fax: 020 7915 5439 > www.wmin.ac.uk/disability > > > > > > The University of Westminster is a charity and a company limited by > guarantee. Registration number: 977818 England. Registered Office: 309 > Regent Street, London W1B 2UW. > > > > > To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to > http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm > > > This incoming email to UWE has been independently scanned for viruses by > McAfee anti-virus software and none were detected > > > > > > ________________________________ > This email was independently scanned for viruses by McAfee anti-virus > software and none were found > >