Language and labels — what’s the big deal?
by Patricia
Language and labels are powerful. They convey information, inform society and suggest a particular perspective. Labels that are used to describe individuals with disabilities, when used in other contexts, are often derogatory. Pierre Lellouche, French minister to Europe, did just this when describing the British Conservative Party in an interview with The Guardian.
They have one line and they just repeat one line. It is a very bizarre sense of autism.
If we remember European history we learned back in high school, we know that when the French talk about the British (or vice versa) it is likely to be disparaging. But did France’s Europe Minister need to include a disability label to make his point? I don’t think so.
Individuals with disabilities experience enough barriers because of societal perceptions. Using disability labels to describe the questionable behaviors of politicians just contributes to these barriers. Let’s keep the use of disability labels out of name-calling.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:45 am
My daughter in 7th grade was not invited to participate in the school play this year. The school said they included some children with disabilities but was limited. My daughter has a disorder of expression and this role playing is so important and I continue to get no where with the school, a public entity. Does the American with Disabilities Act imply that they have to include some or all?/Help, we are devastated at their insensitivity.