ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses people-first language (PFL). The basic idea of PFL was to use a sentence structure that names the person first and the condition second, for example 'people with disabilities' rather than 'the disabled', in order to emphasize that 'they are people first'. The most common disability model within the disabled community is the social/cultural model, which emanates from the idea that disability is a socio-political construct and that fears language and stereotypes are the real barriers to individuals with disabilities. The disability rights movement is about accommodating the differences, not erasing, hiding or apologizing for them. The impairment is not the actual physical or medical 'disability'. In all cases, the non-disabled person is a hero and the disabled person gets treated similarly to a prop or as sweet, dumb folks to be pitied. Disabled people have historically and traditionally been 'labeled' by medical, welfare, social and charitable organizations and described in terms of what is 'wrong' with them.
