Proper Terminology
The Power of Words and anyone who has read a good book or read a good article know that the right words come together to tell a story and create an image and those words can have either a negative or positive effect on how we view he story we are reading.
Always put the person first.
The term "disabled person" or "disabled" should not be used since it suggests that a disability is a persons' defining feature. We are mothers and fathers, brothers ans sisters, employers ans employees, neighbors and friends and a disability is only a part of who a person is.
By using the "people, or person living with a disability" the emphases is on the person first without denying the reality of the disability.
Brave and courageous.
Avoid using words like "brave" "courageous", "inspirational" or other similar words. People with disabilities are living their lives the same as everyone else with dreams and hopes for a loving family, a home, a job, good friends and good health.
Different methods may be used to achieve this, but the end result is the same. This does not make someone courageous or brave. However, if you saved the world...your would be brave and courageous and definitely a hero.
People living with a disability are comfortable with terminology used to describe daily living activities. You can say to a person who is blind..." I see what your mean." or to ask a person that uses a wheelchair if they would like to go for a walk.
A disability just means that some things are dome in a different manner. That does not mean the words used to describe the activity must be different. Expressions like "suffer from", "stricken with", "afflicted with" "patient", "disease". or "sick" create an image of constant pain and a sense of hopelessness. We suffer from exclusion, overty and oneliness but we fo not suffer from a disability.
A disability is not what defines prople. It is a part of who we are, but we are all so much more thaan that.
