I would agree with Simi and perhaps carry it a bit further by stating we
must affirm the materiality of disability - that which has been
pathologized as impairment. As I argued back in 1999 'people first
language' disavows the vitality of the 'lived experience' of disability
and creates the category of able cripple as a goal to achieve (thanks
Cheryl Marie Wade) that perpetuates ableism and its sibling disableism.
James Overboe
Associate Professor
Sociology Department & Cultural Analysis and Social Theory M.A. program
Wilfrid Laurier Unversity
>>> Simi Linton <[log in to unmask]> 10/02/12 8:48 AM >>>
It is my impression that the majority of dis rights folks in the U.S.
and the vast majority of dis studies people use what i like to call
'disability first language'.
I describe myself as a disabled woman.
I think when talking about specific impairments/conditions the "with"
term comes in more.
All this in response to comment below about UK vs US practice.
Curious as to others perceptions of this pratice. Simi
Simi Linton
Disability/Arts Consultancy
http://www.similinton.com/
________________________________
From: Emma Sheppard <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, October 2, 2012 8:22 AM
Subject: Re: People first language
I think, at this point, however, it is worth including that "people
first language" is often the preferred approach of disabled people (or
people with disabilities) in the United States - in much the same way
that social model terminology is preferred here; both are the preferred
self-identifiers of disabled people/PWD, and there isn't a "better" one.
I'd suggest that, with the language rooted in the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), it is both medically-based and socially-based;
it is a linguistic difference in much the same way as American English
vs British English gives us elevator/lift, faucet/tap, and
eraser/rubber. I'd imagine that, if Alexander's mother were here, she'd
refer to her son as a "disabled person", and there would be a great deal
of protest from American disability rights campaigners telling her she's
wrong to do so.
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for
Disability Studies at the University of Leeds
(www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to
[log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web
page.
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for
Disability Studies at the University of Leeds
(www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to
[log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web
page.
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
|