Disabled, or with disabilities?

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on February 18, 2009 - 9:22am.
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Katie DorsettA bill would make the state more careful with its language about disabilities.

Legislation filed this week by Sen. Katie Dorsett, a Greensboro Democrat, would make the state refer to "people with disabilities" rather than "the disabled."

The bill, titled "People First," aims to make legal references to disabilities a secondary trait rather than the sole description.

In place of "handicapped," "mentally retarded" or "mentally disabled," the state would say "people with disabilities," "intellectual disability" or "mental illness." The state would also avoid saying people were "afflicted with" or "suffering from" a disease.

"Certain terms are demeaning and create an invisible barrier to inclusion as equal community members," the bill says.

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Re: Disabled, or with disabilities?

Submitted by tangoz on February 18, 2009 - 4:26pm.

Where is Cornbread on this waste of taxpayers timea and money. Or is cornbread a hyprocit? He attacks a very well known national issue on term limits, yet doesn't point out the waste of time here. Oh that it is right, corn bread is a kool aid drinking liberal.

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Re: Disabled, or with disabilities?

Submitted by Kingixolib on February 18, 2009 - 3:42pm.

What a bunch of bananas.......and we keep putting these clowns back in office!

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Re: Disabled, or with disabilities?

Submitted by jerimee on February 18, 2009 - 12:50pm.

The idea is to not define people by their minority status. You say "person of color" or "people with disabilities" to recognise that, first and foremost, these are people like the rest of us.

When you think of "a blonde" you probably get a different mental picture than when you think of "a person with blonde hair."

While treating folks with respect is something that conservatives seem to have a problem with, the power of language is well understood by Republican activists. Why else do they persist in the "Democrat party" schtick, or insist upon labeling immigrants as "illegals?"

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Re: Disabled, or with disabilities?

Submitted by aftercancer on February 18, 2009 - 12:10pm.

What is really demeaning is that state time and money will be spent on semantics rather than providing services to the people. If a bill like this is passed it will be with the best of intentions. However, it will have a cost as forms, letterheads, signs and more will need to be changed to reflect the correct language.

If you want to show people with disabilities respect treat them like taxpayers who have worth and need support rather than as a catchphrase.

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