Massage Therapy Journal Fall 2024

Fall 2024 • 39

The Importance of Respectful Language When we think about reducing barriers and improving access for our clients, many of us think about changes to structural design or better technologies. We are also responsible for choosing our words carefully and using them in a way that will positively affect the people with whom we interact. Our words, both spoken and written, demonstrate dignity and respect, promote equality, as well as reduce stereotyping. Currently, there are two schools of thought regarding the most respectful way to refer to disabled people— person-first language and identity-first language. Person-first language puts the person ahead of the disability. When we use person-first language, we state what a person has (e.g., Mary Smith has a seizure disorder) and not what a person is (e.g., Mary Smith is epileptic). Words such as “blind” and “low vision” are adjectives, not nouns. A broad example of person-first language is “person with a disability.” It can be used in a sentence in the following ways: • “Tom is a student with learning disabilities who enjoys playing cards.” • “Jamal is a person with autism who has a talent for writing.” • “Francis is a client with epilepsy who loves reflexology.” Person-first language began in Sweden in the 1970s, and developed from a self-advocacy movement that included disabled people who wanted a voice in how they were referred to. This movement quickly expanded to Canada and then to the United States. In 2006, The People First Respectful Language Modernization Act was passed by the Council of the District of Columbia, which required the “use of respectful language when referring to people with disabilities in all new and revised District laws, regulations, rules and publications, including internet publications.” 3 Some organizations and agencies strongly advocate for the use of person-first language. An excellent example of this is The Americans

With Disabilities Act (ADA), which is written in person-first language. 4 But this does not negate the importance of those disabled voices for whom identity-first language is preferred. Identity-first language conveys the opposite message and emphasizes the disability and its role in shaping the person’s life by putting it first instead of using the phrase “a person with.” Identity-first language originated with the deaf community, and has gained popularity and acceptance in other subgroups. The premise of identity-first is that language that separates a group from one of their core characteristics suggests the characteristic is negative. Instead, identity-first language honors the idea that the characteristic is an essential component of their identity and how they experience and interact with the world. 5 For many adults who receive a diagnosis of autism, self-identification as autistic or neurodiverse can be liberating as they might have believed themselves to be broken. 6-8 Initially, identity-first language was rejected by many in the disability community, as some advocates felt it put their disability before anything else. However, identity-first language is gaining popularity as a source of pride and power. Here are a few examples of identity-first language: • “Sam, a blind woman, is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association.” • “Reed is a deaf man who gives massages at the spa.” • “My autistic son enjoys playing online video games.” As a rule, use person-first language over identity-first language, as some people still may take offense to having their disabilities before their personal information. Person-first language is also the safer choice when speaking or writing for a general audience. When speaking directly with any individual, it is best to ask how they prefer to be addressed or described if you do not know. Keep in mind that language is constantly evolving. One group of people cannot speak for any other group of people. No matter how careful you are, you will make mistakes. The correct terms five years ago may not be preferred today. The best

As a rule, use person first language over identity-first language, as some people still may take offense to having their disabilities before their personal information. Person first language is also the safer choice when speaking or writing for a general audience.

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