Best Practices
#HockeyChangesLives
Person First Language
At the Hendrickson Foundation, we believe it is important for all of us to be mindful of our words when speaking of people with disabilities. Our words really do matter. Disabilities are only a part of what makes the person a person and our words should reflect that belief. People are people first. Traits, characteristics, or disabilities should come after (i.e. Person with disabilities vs Disabled person). To help our HF community learn more about this, we created a video as one of ‘Best Practices’ for the foundation. Enjoy watching “The Other Brothers” learn about ‘Person First Language’ and how to speak from a positive versus deficit perspective.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Maya Angelou
Don’t Say . . .
Instead Say . . .
Dwarf, midget
Little person, short stature
Mental retardation, retarded
Cognitive disabilities
Stricken, suffers/dying from…
Living with…
Wheelchair bound
Uses a wheelchair
Mute, can’t talk
Nonverbal or communicates with (device, sign, gestures, etc.)
Crippled, handicapped
Physical disabilities, Accessible-ramps, bathrooms, parking
Disabled PERSON
Down Syndrome CHILD
Physically disabled ADULTS
PERSON with disabilities
CHILD with Down Syndrome
ADULTS with physical disabilities
Always put the PERSON first!!
Don’t Say . . .
Dwarf, midget
Instead Say . . .
Little person, short stature
Don’t Say . . .
Mental retardation, retarded
Instead Say . . .
Cognitive disabilities
Don’t Say . . .
Stricken, suffers/dying from…
Instead Say . . .
Living with…
Don’t Say . . .
Wheelchair bound
Instead Say . . .
Uses a wheelchair
Don’t Say . . .
Mute, can’t talk
Instead Say . . .
Nonverbal or communicates with (device, sign, gestures, etc.)
Don’t Say . . .
Crippled, handicapped
Instead Say . . .
Physical disabilities, Accessible-ramps, bathrooms, parking
Don’t Say . . .
Disabled PERSON
Down Syndrome CHILD
Physically disabled ADULTS
Instead Say . . .
PERSON with disabilities
CHILD with Down Syndrome
ADULTS with physical disabilities
Always put the PERSON first!!
Contact Us
2015 Forest Drive West
Richfield, MN 55423
612-308-7575
kristin@hendricksonfoundation.com