Put “Me” first: the importance of person-first language

Did you know that the largest minority group in the United States is people with disabilities? And if you think about it, it’s the most inclusive group. No matter your age, gender, sexuality, or ethnicity, you can be a member.
Person-first language is an important thing to consider when talking to or about someone with a disability. It’s a good thing to be aware of, and unfortunately isn’t a widely known type of language to use.
I know the majority of the time that I try to correct my friends or mention it in conversation, it’s rare for someone to know what I am referring to, and that’s something I’d like to change.
What is person-first language? Person-first language is a way of speaking about typically people with disabilities to avoid subconscious dehumanization.
It’s a way of describing the person first and their diagnosis second, in a way describing what the person has, not what the person is.
A couple examples would be “She has autism” rather than “She’s autistic” or “He uses a wheelchair” instead of “He’s wheelchair bound.”
This doesn’t just apply to those with disabilities, however. You can utilize this language will all types of people you will encounter in your life, such as people that have a disease, or even people who are homeless.
It’s like referring to someone who “has alcoholism” rather than “a drunk.” Something as simple as someone’s appearance, such as “the black person” versus “the person with dark skin.”
It can be as simple as that to make small changes in your everyday language.
While it can hold more weight in regards to those with disabilities, it’s a good thing to be conscious of in your everyday life.
It’s more than just a language, it goes deeper into our attitudes towards others and how those attitudes reflect into our actions.