<\/a>Melissa Ortiz<\/p><\/div>\n
A popular refrain from my childhood was \u201csticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.\u201d It was yelled with great bravado across playgrounds, classrooms, bus aisles and anywhere else you\u2019d find groups of children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAn entomology nerd, I looked up the origins of the phrase. It is thought to have originally been presented as an \u201cold adage\u201d in the AME\u2019s The Christian Recorder<\/em> of March 1862, with the original form being along the lines of \u201cSticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never break me; names will never harm me.\u201d <\/span>
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\n<\/span>No disrespect to the African Methodist Episcopal denomination, but I tend to agree more with Robert Fugham\u2019s assessment in <\/span>Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten<\/span><\/em> that goes like this: \u201cSticks and stones will break our bones, but words will break our hearts.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\nBones heal with time. Some hearts never do. The words we use with one another can build up or denigrate. In short, words matter.<\/span><\/p>\nLanguage changes over time in any arena; this is especially true in disability-related policy. In honor of March being Disability Awareness Month, here are a few pertinent examples of the words we might be using without thought to origins and meanings, along with some better alternatives:<\/span><\/p>\nThe Disabled <\/b>– <\/span>U<\/span><\/i>se \u201cpeople first\u201d language when referring to individuals with disabilities. Using the word \u201cthe\u201d in front of any group of people objectifies them. Put the focus on the person, not the disability, i.e., <\/span>people with disabilities. Use terms that convey ability, merit and dignity.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nSuffers from <\/b>– Connotes physical or emotional pain. Instead, say <\/span>the person <\/b>has <\/i><\/b>(name of disability).<\/b><\/p>\nAfflicted or affliction <\/b>– Person who <\/span>has <\/i><\/b>or <\/span>is affected by <\/i><\/b>is much better.<\/span><\/p>\nVictim <\/b>– Where\u2019s the crime? A person may be disabled as the result of an event that could be considered criminal, but that doesn\u2019t make the disability itself a crime or the person a victim.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nConfined to a wheelchair or wheelchair-bound <\/b>\u2013 It\u2019s better to say <\/span>the person uses a wheelchair<\/i><\/b>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\nCrippled, crippling or any form of this word <\/b>– Usage in our language has made this the equivalent of labeling someone as being damaged or rendered useless. It is better to say the individual <\/span>has a disability<\/i><\/b>, and if necessary, describe specifically how the disability affects the person.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe blind kid\u201d or similar qualifiers <\/b>\u2013 The term \u201cblind\u201d is okay to describe the condition, but not a person. Please use <\/span>person <\/b>who is blind <\/i><\/b>when referring to people.<\/span><\/p>\nDisease, defect or deformity – <\/b>While a disease may cause a disability, the disability is not communicable, and the person who has the disability may be perfectly healthy… and how could anyone want to be referred to as diseased, defective or deformed? Unless there is a specific medical diagnosis, refer to disabilities as <\/span>conditions<\/i><\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\nDrain or burden <\/b>– No one wants to be referred to as a drain or burden on loved ones or caregivers. Persons with disabilities are often the first to acknowledge and appreciate caregivers\u2019 <\/span>added responsibilities<\/i><\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\nHandicap or The Handicapped <\/b>\u2013 These terms come from a time after World War One when people with disabilities, especially soldiers wounded in battle, were forced to be beggars, on the street with “cap in hand.” It is better to simply say the person <\/span>has a disability<\/i><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPhysically (or mentally) challenged <\/b>– People with disabilities face many challenges, but that isn’t the point. Most people with disabilities are perfectly aware of their conditions. <\/span>Using a euphemism won’t change that.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\nRetard or retarded <\/b>– Use of these words in any context is extremely offensive and inappropriate. It is acceptable to say a person <\/span>has an intellectual disability<\/i><\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\nSpastic <\/b>\u2013 a diagnostic qualifier in specific medical contexts; using the word spastic outside of those contexts is unacceptable.<\/span><\/p>\nAutistic<\/b> \u2013 Speak in terms of someone having autism or being autistic. \u201cSharon has autism\u201d \u201cShe is autistic.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nUsing language that reflects our American belief that everyone is equal and fully a part of our society, regardless of level of ability, is crucial. Using these words will help ensure respect from fellow citizens, and especially from the media, which often reflects our society\u2019s perceptions. <\/span><\/p>\nWhile it may seem cumbersome at first, learning the new appropriate phrases is easier than you might think and eventually they will roll right off your tongue when discussing living with a disability. If you need help learning all this, email me at <\/span>mortiz@nationalcenter.org<\/span><\/a> to get a one-pager \u201ccheat sheet\u201d by return email.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Melissa Ortiz<\/a> serves as Senior Advisor for the Able Americans Project<\/a> at the National Center for Public Policy Research.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A popular refrain from my childhood was \u201csticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.\u201d It was yelled with great bravado across playgrounds, classrooms, bus aisles and anywhere else you\u2019d find groups of children.\u00a0 An entomology nerd, I looked up…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":45040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[708,35],"tags":[675],"yoast_head":"\n
Melissa Ortiz: Broken Bones or Broken Hearts? - The National Center<\/title>\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n