Public Policy
People First Language
Language is powerful. Many of the words used to describe children and adults with disabilities are unkind and demeaning, insidiously creating an invisible barrier to including people of all abilities into our communities. People First Language puts the person before the disability and describes what a person has, and not what a person is. As stated in the U.S. Developmental Disabilities Act and The Bill of Rights Act of 1993, "Disability is a natural part of the human condition..."
On July 1, 2005, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed HB 3047 Respectful Language bill into law, requiring state laws and regulations to adopt people first language in new documents.
Family and Community Together (FACT) is a family leadership coalition working to facilitate positive change in policies, systems and attitudes affecting Oregonians with disabilities or chronic health concerns and their families. More about FACT ...