What’s In A Name? Person-First Language - Episode 15

A lot has changed in the way we talk about health over the last 40 years. Including the terminology around disability.

Person-first language entered the popular lexicon in the early 1980s, when AIDS activists in Denver rightfully advocated for terms that centered their humanity and not victimhood. But other groups, including Deaf and Blind advocates, felt that PFL terms were ableist, emphasizing personhood over disability, when those disabilities are integral to their experience of the world, shaping their individual identities and giving rise to a rich disability culture.

This week, Robbie and Jordan talk through their thoughts and feelings on Person-First and Identity-First language as it relates to ADHD. The identity-first construction of "ADHD Person" is grammatically awkward, but PFL's "person with ADHD" contains an underlying implication that it's a problem to be solved. ADHD isn't a disease to be cured, but a different brain composition. A large part of treatment is simply awareness; people who understand themselves as ADHD, recognize the disabling and disruptive aspects and how they affect their lives, can take the first step to creating mitigation strategies through individualized care.

They also discuss Elon Musk's recent appearance on SNL, the ensuing discussion around the term Asperger's, and why it's a problematic label for Autistic people. Devon Price offers a succinct primer on the mistaken use of the word in this article.

They also talk about how the shifts in language over time means they can habitually slip into ableist language, even about their own experience, and how the anonymity of information hubs like Twitter facilitates the kind of language and identity policing that stymies authentic dialogue.

Jordan mentions an upcoming book by Da'Shaun L. Harrison. You can find their book Belly of the Beast on this preorder page and follow Da'Shaun's Twitter: @DaShaunLH

Hosted by Robbie McDonald and Jordan Lane. Production by Robbie McDonald and music by Jordan Lane.

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