I first became aware of the PWD usage in the late '70s, when I first became
involved with the disability movement at the time of the formation of the
Liberation Network. The concern was to find an alternative to the widely
used 'the disabled', which was seen as depersonalising. 'Disabled people'
has perhaps achieved its present currency as a result of its use by UPIAS
and the dominance of their terminology.
In 1973, UPIAS, in their Policy Statement, were using the term 'people with
physical impairments'. By 1975, in 'Fundamental Principles', they were
talking of 'disabled people', but the Disability Alliance were still
referring to 'the disabled'.
A colleague with whom I used to run Equality Training sessions suggested
that the 'people with' form is often preferred by people who have acquired
impairments as a way of indicating that they are still the same person they
always were.
Best wishes
Allan Sutherland
----- Original Message -----
From: "Emma Rowlett" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 4:40 PM
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
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