A site for parents of young children with special needs.
Forming critical early goals in the family, school, and community will build a child's best life.
People-First Language
Otherwise known as your child is not a label
"My Autistic son, my Downs daughter, my disabled child, my SPED kids..."
Perhaps you've heard people refer to kids in this way. It might not have phased you. After all, there is nothing shameful about living with a disability.
"My cancer kid, my big-headed son, my heart-diseased daughter."
You probably haven't heard people refer to kids in this way.
Using People-First Language is an easy way to give your child the dignity of being a child first, not a label. You child's special needs are not their defining feature, and using language that reflects that teaches your child and the people who surround your child to view them in that way.
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"My son who has autism, my daughter who was born with Down Syndrome, my child who lives with a disability, my kids who recieved special education service."
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Your child deserves the dignity to be identified just like all other children are identified...as a child first.
To learn more about people-first language, start here:
What is People First Language from the Arc
Examples of People First Language from the National Disability Institute
People First Language from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
Communicating With and About People With Disabilities from the CDC
The Problem with "Problem" from Disability is Natural
Wrong is Not Right from Disability is Natural