A disabled person or a person with a disability?
An autistic person or a person who has autism?
A blind man or a man who is blind?
Which one of these do you prefer using? The first one in each list is an identity-first approach, while the second is person-first language. Within the professional world, especially mental health fields, there has long been a push for the latter under the belief that it emphasizes the humanity of a person. The CDC has recommended this as well and offers a quick reference with examples of people-first language versus language to avoid. However, not everyone agrees with this. …show more content…
There are a variety of reasons for this, but the debate isn't quite as clear-cut as that. There are valid arguments for both sides and a clear moral to the debate regardless of your personal preference. In this post, I will explore each side of the debate, my personal preference, and the most important aspect of communication regardless of which position you