Identity-first language is generally preferred by self-advocates in the autistic, deaf, and blind communities. Identity-first language emphasizes that the disability plays a role in who the person is, and reinforces disability as a positive cultural identifier. Some disability self-advocates prefer identity-first language. For example, instead of saying 'Down syndrome person,' it is preferable to say, 'person with Down syndrome.' People-first language places the emphasis on the person instead of on the disability when discussing most intellectual and developmental disabilities. Therefore it is preferable to use people-first language. For example, instead of writing 'wheelchair-bound' or 'confined to a wheelchair' use 'person who uses a wheelchair.' Instead of 'victim of quadriplegia,' use 'person with quadriplegia' or 'people with paraplegia.'ĭisability is a natural part of the human experience, an aspect of human diversity like other areas of human variation, and most people do not like to be labeled. Avoid using 'suffers from,' 'afflicted with,' 'bound,' 'confined,' 'sentenced to,' 'prisoner,' 'victim,' or any other term that implies tragedy. Disability is just one aspect of the person. People with disabilities are not victims. People with disabilities do not want to be referred to as a victim or object of pity. Negative language leads to harmful action, discrimination, abuse, negative stereotypes, disenfranchisement, and violence this is true along racial, gender. Efforts such as End the Word have been increasingly successful in removing the word both from medical and common language. The advocacy movement led by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities ('self-advocacy') continues to work to eliminate the use of the term 'mental retardation' or derivative terminology due to its harmful impact on their lives. addict).iv This type of language can shift the way people with substance use disorders are viewed.

In addition, words and labels can cause others to think that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not able to achieve the things that others can achieve. schizophrenic, person with a substance use disorder vs. 'Retard' and 'retarded' are derogatory and dehumanizing terms - on par with the N-word used to describe African Americans, and various hateful terms used to describe members of the Jewish, gay and lesbian, and other minority communities. Person first language is considered the most courteous way to address someone with a disability because the person is recognized first before their. Negative language leads to harmful action, discrimination, abuse, negative stereotypes, disenfranchisement, and violence this is true along racial, gender, sexual orientation, and disability lines, and more.

Langy person