Using the right language when talking about people with impairments and disabilities is important. Person-first language (PFL) is commonly used to avoid labeling and reduce stigma. However, there is some debate about whether PFL is always the best approach. In this blog article, we will discuss the pros and cons of using person-first language when referring to disabled individuals.

Person-First Language Advantages:

1. Lessens Stigma Person-first language prioritizes the individual over the handicap, which can lessen the stigma that is frequently attached to impairments. It draws attention to the person’s humanity and potential by focusing on them as a person rather than their condition.
2. Respectful: PFL is viewed by many disabled individuals as a more polite way to talk about their experiences. It demonstrates that you value them as a person above your understanding of their impairment.
3. PFL supports inclusion by recognizing that people with disabilities are not a single, homogenous group but rather distinct individuals with individual experiences. Additionally, it prevents people with impairments from having only one component of their identities.
4. Person-centered: PFL acknowledges that people with disabilities are more than just their condition by placing the person first. The significance of recognizing those who have impairments as unique individuals with their own strengths and shortcomings is emphasized.

The Drawbacks of Person-First Language:

1. Not Everyone’s Favorite: Not all disabled individuals favor PFL. Some people think that having a disability is a significant part of who they are and that PFL can help them to forget that portion of their history. The term “autistic person” rather than “person with autism” is an example of identity-first language (IFL), which stresses the impairment first.
2. PFL may be utilized excessively to the point where it is uncomfortable or unclear. It can be unnecessarily euphemism and unclear to refer to a person as having “ability challenges” rather than “disabilities.”
3. Disability Is Negative: By focusing on the individual first, PFL suggests that the disability is something negative that needs to be minimized or concealed. Many disabled individuals, however, may not view their disability as a negative feature of who they are, and they could favor identity-first language.
4. Inaccurate: PFL may occasionally be off. For instance, using the phrase “person with Down syndrome” conveys that the person has the condition rather than that it is a natural part of who they are.