People First Language

[Guest guest]

Hi guys!

I just wanted to share this wonderful article I found on Karhie Snow's website.

It's about

people first language. our kids are not DS kids. They are kids first, regardless

of any

diagnosis. ( & it's not about being politically correct.) If we don't use

language in this way, why

would others? Just thoughts to ponder.

http://disabilityisnatural.com/pdf/PFL.pdf

[Guest guest]

I like the people first language, the other "DS kid" grates on my ears a little bit but I wouldn't correct (or judge) anyone for saying it that way (now the "R" word is another story!). In the grand scheme of things it's really only a small difference. Which is exactly the point about spending that kind of $ on a small issue like that. That REALLY grates on me and I've had less respect for that organization ever since. I'm sure we can all think of a bazillion better ways that $ could have been spent to help our kids!

Kathy

Re: People First Language

I'm sorry. I got turned off to this campaign way back when one ofthe main DS organizations spent $1,000,000 just to try to geteveryone to say "kid with DS" instead of "DS kid". There were manymany other better ways to help our kids than spending money andeffort on this nonsense in my opinion. I personally see no differencein "kid with DS" or "DS kid" and feeling somewhat rebellious aboutthe whole thing I say it either way. I figure being the parent of aDS kid gives me the right to say it any old way. I just fail to seethe significance. The whole list they gave of better ways to saystuff --I don't see much difference either way. It's politicalcorrectness gone wild and I just don't see it. Just say it the wayit is and don't obsess over how to tell the truth. And especiallydon't spend money on it. JMHO.Priscilla K--- spritelyslp <spritelyslp > wrote:> Hi guys!> > I just wanted to share this wonderful article I found on Karhie> Snow's website. It's about > people first language. our kids are not DS kids. They are kids> first, regardless of any > diagnosis. ( & it's not about being politically correct.) If we> don't use language in this way, why > would others? Just thoughts to ponder.> > > > > http://disabilityisnatural.com/pdf/PFL.pdf> > > > Priscilla Kendrick, married 28 years to Darrel and parents of 9 kids including Evan, 10, born with Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida"My strength is made perfect in weakness." "My grace is sufficient." II Corinthians 12:9 KJV__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Priscilla, I agree to some extent with you that this isn't something that we should obsess about, but we should at least use the more respectable terms ourselves. Remember our children born several years ago used to be referred to as "Mongoloid Idiots" but their disability was the same as it is now and good people worked hard to first get the "idiot" part dropped and then fought for the more respected term of Ds. I'm sure you agree that that wasn't just another way to tell the truth. We're the ones to set examples for people that really don't understand and don't want to offend so will take our lead. Bonnie from Ohio Richbmom@... SAHM to 23 now living on her own, 10 and 6 Ds,

CHD, Bronchial Tube defects, gastroesophageal reflux with silent aspiration, slight Nystagmus, Alopecia Areata, and AAI, excellent gross motor skills. . . bet you can't catch her!! http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/amr/

[Guest guest]

I agree. I think the terminology WE, as parents and advocates for our kids, use does have an impact on others and sets the tone for our children. Politically correct or not, I want my children to be known as kids who have Down syndrome, not Down syndrome kids.

Jill

Mom to Mac (8 yrs, 3rd grade, Ds) and Kit (almost 5, preschool, Ds)

Re: People First Language

Priscilla,

I agree to some extent with you that this isn't something that we should obsess about, but we should at least use the more respectable terms ourselves. Remember our children born several years ago used to be referred to as "Mongoloid Idiots" but their disability was the same as it is now and good people worked hard to first get the "idiot" part dropped and then fought for the more respected term of Ds. I'm sure you agree that that wasn't just another way to tell the truth.

We're the ones to set examples for people that really don't understand and don't want to offend so will take our lead.

Bonnie from Ohio Richbmom@... SAHM to 23 now living on her own, 10 and Aman da 6 Ds, CHD, Bronchial Tube defects, gastroesophageal reflux with silent aspiration, slight Nystagmus, Alopecia Areata, and AAI, excellent gross motor skills. . . bet you can't catch her!!

http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/amr/

[Guest guest]

I used to think the same as Priscilla, but since has been in PS I have really changed my mine big time. The problem with using the terms 'DS kid' or 'retarded kids' is that is puts them in a box with so many people. Now it may not do that with US, and it doesn't for me at all. In private or in my own mind, I have no issues with refering to as retarded or *gasp* saying something like - that makes her look very Downi when she does that. I don't really have a bad conotation to the terms 'retarded' or Downs. I only think of and have good vibes when using those terms. BUT!! Others don't see it that way. When you use those types of terms they are grouping all the kids and not seeing individuals. It limits their expectations of the kids when you let them get away with those terms. It's deaming because the people who tend to use those terms most MAKE it

deaming. I'll never forget walking into preschool with and the teacher proudly proclaiming that 'she once taught a down syndrome to swim'...... sigh..... I guess she considers DS to be a different breed of people or something. Anyway- by the time we ( another parent and I ) were done with her, she had stopped thinking that way and it was reflected in her use of terms too. ;-) She was honestly surprised that our two dd's were exact opposites in just about every way. She really thought that all kids with DS were the SAME. Hence the terms 'DS kids'. It simply seems to reflect a way of thinking that really needs to be stopped and sometimes the way people speak, can begin to alter how they THINK about something too. When you stop and make them say 'kid WITH DS' it forces them to think differently and that is the important issue. Carol in

IL

Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.

[Guest guest]

No offense taken here and also didn't mean to imply at all that you were correcting or judging anyone either. So hard to get our exact meanings across in email sometimes!

Kathy

Re: People First Language

> > > Hi guys!> > > > I just wanted to share this wonderful article I found on Karhie> > Snow's website. It's about > > people first language. our kids are not DS kids. They are kids> > first, regardless of any > > diagnosis. ( & it's not about being politically correct.) If we> > don't use language in this way, why > > would others? Just thoughts to ponder.> > > > > > > > > > http://disabilityisnatural.com/pdf/PFL.pdf> > > > > > > > > > Priscilla Kendrick, married 28 years to Darrel and parents of 9 kids including Evan, 10, born with Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida> > "My strength is made perfect in weakness." > "My grace is sufficient." II Corinthians 12:9 KJV> > __________________________________________________>

[Guest guest]

This was outstanding! What great information for us to take back into our

communities!

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

People First Language

Christiansen received this press release and asked that I

share it with the group as a reminder about People First language.

It's interesting to me that while there's been much progress

toward 'people first' language, there are still MANY parts of the

community where no one knows about it. It's a good reminder for us

all in our awareness efforts. Thanks, .

Laurie

FOR IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

Contact: Schleider

212-763-4369/sschleider@...

Governor Palin of Alaska has been selected as McCain's

choice for Vice Presidential nominee of the Republican Party.

Governor Palin recently gave birth to her son who has Down

syndrome. The Palins knew before their son's birth that he would

have Down syndrome.

Below are tips for the proper use of language for `Down syndrome'.

The National Down Syndrome Society and the National Down Syndrome

Congress encourages all media to use the below language:

· Down vs. Down's. NDSS and NDSC use the preferred spelling,

Down syndrome, rather than Down's syndrome. While Down syndrome is

listed in many dictionaries with both popular spellings (with or

without an apostrophe s), the preferred usage in the United States

is Down syndrome. This is because an " apostrophe s " connotes

ownership or possession. Down syndrome is named for the English

physician Langdon Down, who characterized the condition, but

did not have it. The AP Stylebook recommends using " Down syndrome "

as well.

· People with Down syndrome should always be referred to as

people first. Instead of " a Down syndrome child, " it should be " a

child with Down syndrome. " Also avoid " Down's child " and describing

the condition as " Down's, " as in, " He has Down's. "

· Down syndrome is a condition or a syndrome, not a disease.

· People " have " Down syndrome, they do not " suffer from " it

and are not " afflicted by " it.

· It is clinically acceptable to say " mental retardation, "

but you may want to use the more socially acceptable " cognitive

disability " or " cognitive impairment. "

Down Syndrome Myths and Truths

Myth: Down syndrome is a rare genetic disorder.

Truth: Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic

condition. One in every 733 live births is a child with Down

syndrome, representing approximately 5,000 births per year in the

United States alone. Today, more than 400,000 people in the United

States have Down syndrome.

Myth: People with Down syndrome have a short life span.

Truth: Life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has

increased dramatically in recent years, with the average life

expectancy approaching that of peers without Down syndrome.

Myth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older parents.

Truth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to women younger

than 35-years-old simply because younger women have more children.

However, the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome

increases with the age of the mother.

Myth: People with Down syndrome are severely " retarded. "

Truth: Most people with Down syndrome have IQs that fall in the mild

to moderate range of intellectual disability (formerly known

as " retardation " ). Children with Down syndrome fully participate in

public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers

are still discovering the full educational potential of people with

Down syndrome.

Myth: Most people with Down syndrome are institutionalized.

Truth: Today people with Down syndrome live at home with their

families and are active participants in the educational, vocational,

social, and recreational activities of the community. They are

integrated into the regular education system and take part in

sports, camping, music, art programs and all the other activities of

their communities. People with Down syndrome are valued members of

their families and their communities, contributing to society in a

variety of ways.

Myth: Parents will not find community support in bringing up their

child with Down syndrome.

Truth: In almost every community of the United States there are

parent support groups and other community organizations directly

involved in providing services to families of individuals with Down

syndrome.

Myth: Children with Down syndrome must be placed in segregated

special education programs.

Truth: Children with Down syndrome have been included in regular

academic classrooms in schools across the country. In some instances

they are integrated into specific courses, while in other situations

students are fully included in the regular classroom for all

subjects. The current trend in education is for full inclusion in

the social and educational life of the community. Increasingly,

individuals with Down syndrome graduate from high school with

regular diplomas, participate in post-secondary academic and college

experiences and, in some cases, receive college degrees.

Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unemployable.

Truth: Businesses are seeking young adults with Down syndrome for a

variety of positions. They are being employed in small- and medium-

sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes, hotels and

restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment industry, in

clerical positions, childcare, the sports field and in the computer

industry. People with Down syndrome bring to their jobs enthusiasm,

reliability and dedication.

Myth: People with Down syndrome are always happy.

Truth: People with Down syndrome have feelings just like everyone

else in the population. They experience the full range of emotions.

They respond to positive expressions of friendship and they are hurt

and upset by inconsiderate behavior.

Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unable to form close

interpersonal relationships leading to marriage.

Truth: People with Down syndrome date, socialize, form ongoing

relationships and marry.

Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.

Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in

identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the

characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that

it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the

problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.

For more information visit: www.ndss.org or www.ndsccenter.org