It's one of the dirty secrets of assistive voice technology. There are a million good reasons to use it, and the innovations advance remarkably every day. But as one noted assistive tech innovator pointed out to me as we sat in an exhibition hall full of the latest technology, "Every piece of assistive tech equipment in this room says the same thing to the casual observer. It says 'I have a disability.'"
I'm super supportive of the fact that parenting.com is including a feature on parenting kids with special needs. Can you or someone who blogs for them get them to start using "people first" language? The fact that they call it "news and advice for parents with special needs kids" and every single headline seems to follow the same pattern (My Special Needs Baby..., A letter to my Special Needs Son's School Principal...). It's sort of disheartening.
Great piece by the way. I love watching your daughter grow up through your eyes.
Thanks, I'm really glad you're reading. As for People First Language, a lot of people (including myself) make a very conscious choice NOT to use it. This is a particular point among people. I think this difference of opinion is a good reflection of the diversity of the disability community. I hope you'll still read and enjoy the Parenting site. Thanks!
I heard the piece on NPR and thought of you guys. I hadn't given a ton of thought to how weird it must be to have all these folks using an ACC in the same place -- all using the same voice!
I'm super supportive of the fact that parenting.com is including a feature on parenting kids with special needs. Can you or someone who blogs for them get them to start using "people first" language? The fact that they call it "news and advice for parents with special needs kids" and every single headline seems to follow the same pattern (My Special Needs Baby..., A letter to my Special Needs Son's School Principal...). It's sort of disheartening.
ReplyDeleteGreat piece by the way. I love watching your daughter grow up through your eyes.
Thanks, I'm really glad you're reading. As for People First Language, a lot of people (including myself) make a very conscious choice NOT to use it. This is a particular point among people. I think this difference of opinion is a good reflection of the diversity of the disability community. I hope you'll still read and enjoy the Parenting site. Thanks!
Delete"among DISABLED people"...
ReplyDeleteStupid phone.
I heard the piece on NPR and thought of you guys. I hadn't given a ton of thought to how weird it must be to have all these folks using an ACC in the same place -- all using the same voice!
ReplyDeleteLet's hear it for Schuyler finding hers!