EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNICATIONS

People First Language People First Language

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 ACT OF 1990

Federal civil rights law Federal civil rights law g

• Obligates

Obligates state state and and local local governments governments to to provide provide effective effective communications communications. .

• Ensure

Ensure that that communications communications with with individuals individuals with with hearing, hearing, vision, vision,

• r
• r

speech speech impairments impairments are are as as effective effective as as i ti i ti ith ith th th communications communications with with others

• thers.

.

• Examples

Examples: providing providing a a sign sign language language interpreter interpreter for for someone someone who who is is deaf deaf an an assistive assistive listening listening device device for for someone someone who who is is who who is is deaf, deaf, an an assistive assistive listening listening device device for for someone someone who who is is hard hard of

• f hearing,

hearing, materials materials in in alternate alternate format format for for someone someone who who is is blind, blind, has has low low vision, vision, or

• r has

has a a learning learning disability disability.

• It

It is is each each County County department’s department’s responsibility responsibility to to comply comply. .

People with disabilities need a mechanism People with disabilities need a mechanism by which they can request accessible communications or other types of accommodations as well as materials in alternate format. In order to provide this h i ll ti f bli ti mechanism, all notices of public meetings and publications to be disseminated to the general public shall contain the following general public shall contain the following statement:

UNIVERSAL ACCESS STATEMENT UNIVERSAL ACCESS STATEMENT

County Procedure No. 579: County Procedure No. 579: PROVIDING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PROVIDING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

To request materials in accessible format, sign language interpreters, and/or any accommodation to participate in any County-sponsored program

• r

meeting, please contact five days in advance to initiate your request TTY _________ five days in advance to initiate your request. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service.)

[THE ABOVE BLANK IS TO BE FILLED IN WITH THE [THE ABOVE BLANK IS TO BE FILLED IN WITH THE NAME, TELEPHONE NUMBER, AND E-MAIL ADDRESS, OF THE RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENTAL

• PERSON. IF THE DEPARTMENT HAS A TTY AND

WISHES TO CONTINUE USING IT IT MAY INCLUDE WISHES TO CONTINUE USING IT, IT MAY INCLUDE THE TTY NUMBER AS WELL, BUT THE TTY NUMBER MUST BE IN ADDITION TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS, AND NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR IT.]

When When meeting meeting notices notices do do not not contain contain the the access access statement statement or

• r are

are not not sent sent

• ut
• ut

sufficiently sufficiently in in advance advance

• f
• f

the the y meeting meeting for for addressing addressing accommodations accommodations requests, requests, sign sign language language interpreters interpreters and and materials materials in in accessible accessible format format must must be be provided provided by by the the department department unless unless the the department department knows knows that that no no persons persons needing needing such such d ti d ti ill ill b tt di tt di accommodations accommodations will will be be attending attending. .

When to use the universal statement When to use the universal statement

When having a public meeting-

When having a public meeting “who” “what” “where”

When giving out general information Pamphlets and newsletters

Pamphlets and newsletters

DEPARTMENTAL ADA DEPARTMENTAL ADA COORDINATORS COORDINATORS COORDINATORS COORDINATORS

• Get

Get to to know know your your ADA ADA Coordinator Coordinator. y

• He

He or

• r she

she will will communicate communicate with with the the person person who who p is is making making the the request request to to better better understand understand what what service service is is required required for for effective effective communication communication. .

• ADA

ADA Coordinators Coordinators are are responsible responsible for for obtaining

• btaining

a sign sign language language interpreter interpreter or

• r materials

materials in in a sign sign language language interpreter interpreter or

• r materials

materials in in alternate alternate format format. . They They may may have have to to speak speak with with the the requester requester to to gain gain further further information information. .

“People First” Language “People First” Language

And Depictions of People with Disabilities And Depictions of People with Disabilities

One of the most serious consequences . . . is the dehumanizing negative evaluations we attach to people dehumanizing negative evaluations we attach to people when they have been plastered with a damning label. Because we have slapped a label on them, we assume we have identified the essence

• f

this person semantically branded . . . Thomas Merton (1948) coined the term "self-fulfilling prophecy" which has become the g p p y focus of numerous studies . . . The power of labels to stigmatize, create self-fulfilling prophecies and reduce

• r enhance self images is awesome

Until we learn

• r enhance self-images is awesome . . . Until we learn

to appreciate the power of language and the importance

• f using it responsibly, we will continue to produce

i i l f h i i i d b negative social consequences for those victimized by dangerous language habits.

• - J. Dan Rothwell, Telling It Like It Isn't: Language Misuse and

Malpractice/What We Can Do About It

What is People What is People-First Language? First Language? What is People What is People First Language? First Language?

• People

People-first first language language (PFL) (PFL) is is a way way of

• f speaking

speaking People People first first language language (PFL) (PFL) is is a way way of

• f speaking

speaking and and referring referring to to people people with with disabilities disabilities that that respects respects them them as as human human beings, beings, rather rather than than dehumanizes dehumanizes them them. .

• It

It emphasizes emphasizes the the person person first first and and their their disability disability second second. .

• It

It also also emphasizes emphasizes the the use use of

• f language

language that that is is bj i bj i h h d h bj i bj i

• bjective
• bjective rather

rather than than words words that that are are subjective subjective

• r
• r have

have pejorative pejorative connotations connotations. .

Why is PFL Important? Why is PFL Important? Why is PFL Important? Why is PFL Important?

• The

The order

• rder of
• f the

the words words to to describe describe someone someone can can convey convey priority priority or

• r importance

importance. .

• PFL

PFL represents represents more more respectful, respectful, accurate accurate ways ways

• f
• f

communicating communicating. . People People with with disabilities disabilities are are not not their their diagnoses diagnoses or

• r disabilities

disabilities; they they are are people, people, first first. diagnoses diagnoses or

• r disabilities

disabilities; they they are are people, people, first first.

• And

And words words can can be be loaded loaded down down with with a a stigma, stigma, as as with with the the word word “handicapped “handicapped. .” ” The The word’s word’s origin

• rigin is

is in in the the phrase phrase “hand “hand in in cap,” cap,” which which is is actually actually derived derived from from a a game game of

• f chance

chance but but sometimes sometimes mistakenly mistakenly believed believed to to game game of

• f chance

chance but but sometimes sometimes mistakenly mistakenly believed believed to to involve involve the the image image of

• f a

a beggar beggar. .

First Person Language First Person Language

• A person who is blind

A person who is blind

• A person who uses a wheelchair
• A person with cerebral palsy
• A person with cerebral palsy

Not a person in a wheelchair or wheelchair Not a person in a wheelchair or wheelchair bound Not afflicted with, suffers from, victim of, or crippled by

Since the late 1980s, PFL has gained considerable acceptance p amongst people with disabilities as well as as well as professionals working with them

• r people
• r people
• therwise

interested in the t i

People conversing via American Sign Language.

topic.

EXAMPLES EXAMPLES EXAMPLES EXAMPLES

YES YES

• people with disabilities

NO NO

• the handicapped or disabled

people with disabilities

• people with AIDS
• Kate has (a diagnosis of)

autism pp

• AIDS victims/AIDS patients
• Kate is autistic.
• Bob is a

autism.

• Bob has a mobility disability
• r impairment.

N h l h i /i

• Bob is a

quadriplegic/cripple.

• Nora is confined to a

wheelchair/is wheelchair

• Nora uses a wheelchair/is a

wheelchair user.

• Tom has a mental health

diti wheelchair/is wheelchair bound.

• Tom is emotionally

disturbed/mentally ill/crazy condition.

• children without disabilities
• Tonya has a developmental

disturbed/mentally ill/crazy.

• normal/healthy/typical

children T i t d d disability.

• Pedro has multiple

sclerosis.

• Tonya is retarded.
• Pedro is stricken/afflicted

with MS; is an MS victim.

Real Examples from The Fourth Estate Real Examples from The Fourth Estate Real Examples from The Fourth Estate Real Examples from The Fourth Estate

• “Only in the context of such desperate circumstances

could salvation assume the form of a deformed, wheelchair-bound, almost surely impotent husband 25 years (her) senior ” -- New York Times Sunday Book years (her) senior. New York Times Sunday Book Review, 9/1/09

• “One company…has developed a white blood-cell therapy

p y p py that spurs healing of chronic wounds, like those occurring in diabetics, … and among the bedridden and wheelchair bound ” NY Times 5/20/09 wheelchair-bound.” --NY Times, 5/20/09

• “There are miles of special sidewalk guides for the blind,

but it's common to see them blocked by parked bikes and but it s common to see them blocked by parked bikes and carts.” – TIME Magazine on-line, 9/8/08

“…but (her) ailments mirror those of people suffering from spina bifida.” – The Chicago Tribune, 12/4/09 “After all, we’ve all been brought up not to mock the afflicted ” The London Times Online 11/24/09

• afflicted. – The London Times Online, 11/24/09

“A potentially life-saving experience - just two drops p y g p j p can help stop a child being crippled by polio.” -- BBC News Online, 11/22/09 “Her husband…works with emotionally disturbed children.” Charleston Post and Courier, 11/19/09 ,

Do not focus on a disability unless it is crucial to a story unless it is crucial to a story Focus on the issues that affect the quality of life of people with disabilities: accessible transportation or housing transportation or housing, employment…. Tear – jerking story doesn’t always show a positive and y competent image

Avoid terms such handicapable, a d capab e, differently-abled, special, and challenged They

• challenged. They

come off as cutesy and trivializing, and reinforce the idea that people p p cannot deal honestly with their disabilities

Bypass condescending euphemisms.

their disabilities.

Even though the public might admire super achievers portraying admire super achievers , portraying people with disabilities as superstars raise a false expectation that all people with disabilities that all people with disabilities should achieve at that level Being brave or courageous… they are only coping with what they have to to Their disability might have made it more difficult for them to achieve a more difficult for them to achieve a goal but they are not “special” because they worked hard to

• vercome any limitations

Disability is a natural part of the human condition Disability is a natural part of the human condition.

• Typically,

Typically, people people with with disabilities disabilities would would rather rather be be known known for for the the thi thi th t th t fl t fl t th i th i h t h t th i th i h things things that that reflect reflect on

• n their

their character character or

• r their

their essence essence as as human human beings beings. .

• They

They would would rather rather be be known known as as a a devoted devoted parent parent or

• r a

a successful successful attorney attorney or

• r an

an amateur amateur gourmet gourmet chef chef rather rather than than as as someone someone with with a brace brace on

• n their

their leg leg or

• r someone

someone who who wears wears hearing hearing aids aids a brace brace on

• n their

their leg leg or

• r someone

someone who who wears wears hearing hearing aids aids.

• A

A person’s person’s disability disability is is a a part part of

• f their

their life, life, but but it it needn’t needn’t be be the the d i t d i t thi thi predominant predominant thing thing. .

• Would

Would we we like like to to always always be be known known as as… …the the short short one,

• ne, the

the tall tall

• ne,
• ne, the

the one

• ne with

with one

• ne blue

blue and and one

• ne brown

brown eye????? eye?????

When we adopt new f thi ki d ways of thinking and talking about people with disabilities, we'll not

• nly

exert a positive influence on their lives but on our their lives, but on our society as a whole. We've seen the power f l th

• f language on other

groups; it is unacceptable to use ethnic slurs and other harmful descriptors.

• - Kathie Snow

Language can be empowering.

Have a question? Have a question? C t t th Offi f ADA C di ti C t t th Offi f ADA C di ti Contact the Office of ADA Coordination: Contact the Office of ADA Coordination: h 305 305 375 375 3566 3566 phone phone: : 305 305-375 375-3566 3566 il il d ffi @ i id d d ffi @ i id d email:a email:adaoffice@miamidade.gov daoffice@miamidade.gov Sign language contract: Accessible Communication for the Deaf: Accessible Communication for the Deaf:

954-578-3081 lisa@acdterps.com

CODA LINK CODA LINK:

954-423-6893 codalink@comcast.net

THANK YOU THANK YOU

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