Blog post 1--EDN319


1.    I hate to admit to everyone, my score on the self assessment was quite low--a 40. There were a few things on the list that I would NEVER do, such as use demeaning language (like retarded), push a person in a wheelchair without asking, or staying standing when talking to a person in a wheelchair. However, all the questions referring to calling people "disabled people", "wheel-chair bound", "autistic child", and "victim", I failed. I also admitted to calling people without disabilities "normal", or "non-disabled". Obviously, since I have admittedly used these terms myself, I haven't corrected others or printed material either. My results were quite embarrassing, although it has never been out of malice, just ignorance. Now that I know, there is definitely room for improvement,


2.    Even though I myself have used identity first language, I definitely know person-first language is better. Until reading this, I had never really thought of it before, and in fact thought things like "disabled person" and "handicap parking" were the proper terms. However upon reading this, and really thinking about the difference between "disabled person" and "person with disabilities", it makes perfect sense as to why they wouldn't like it. Just as explained in the article, I wouldn't like it if others identified me by my medical records. People should be addressed as a person, by their name, not their disabilities.


3.    These articles definitely changed my thinking about addressing people with disabilities. I was ignorant. Even though old habits can be hard to break, I will definitely use more consideration when addressing persons with disabilities.


4.    This information is particularly important to me, as an elementary EFL (English as a foreign language) teacher. If I have any students with disabilities in my class, I will need to spend extra time with these students, as they will have double barriers; a language barrier on top of being a person with a disability. What I want the most, is for all of my future students to be as successful as possible. If I am using "helpless" terminology, that may even be seen as demeaning to some people, I will not be instilling self confidence in my students, and will even be part of the problem in society of labeling persons with disabilities.  

5. I am very glad we read this article. Like I said, I had never even gave consideration to those terms. And honestly, if no one had ever explained it to me, I would have probably started teaching calling my students with disabilities "disabled children".