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Dear all,
I think this is a very personal matter.  I have various impairments myself that I am quite happy to refer to myself as a disabled person.  That is all right by me but I know from some research the University has conducted that many disabled staff would prefer not to be referred as disabled.  I agree that everybody needs to look at the person first but writing or saying person with the disability sometimes sounds to me as a bit cumbersome.
I hate terms like physically challenged, differently abled as well and would much prefer disabled it doesn't really have negative connotations for me unlike many other terms.  Physically impaired might be better, but I don't think you are ever going to resolve the matter finally and if appropriate individual should be asked how they want their impairments and themselves referred to.
May I emphasise the fact however that this is my personal opinion and not necessarily that of the University I work for.
I apologise if this isn't much help if I were you I wouldn't get too hung up over this.
Regards
Jackie Evans

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Katy Mann
Sent: 25 April 2008 16:01
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
 

 


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