Wish List Wednesday - Spread The Word To End The Word Edition

For today’s “Wish List Wednesday,” we’re wishing for the elimination of the "r-word" from everyday language.

Today is Spread The Word To End The Word Day! 

Imagine!'s Innovations department and their Innovations Advocacy Council would like to remind everyone that "Respect" starts with the words that we use on a daily basis. We all know that it is not always easy to stop using words that have become industry standards, but through the commitment of many, including people accepting service from Imagine!, family members, and those supporting individuals in services, a cultural change can occur.

The Power of a Word

Words can hold great power, and it is through our words that we can potentially hurt or demean others. The council has created some alternative word choices to use:

• Instead of using “consumer” or “client,” use “individuals with disabilities” or “people with disabilities,” or better yet, refer to individuals simply as people and/or individuals. 
• Instead of using the terminology “high-functioning/low-functioning,” try to explain the parameters of the situation. For example, instead of saying high-functioning, you could say that the person is independent in the community and requires minimal supports. Instead of saying low-functioning, you could say the individual requires additional assistance with daily living tasks. 
• Above all else, we should never use the "r-word." While everyone understands that this is an official diagnosis, there are other ways in which to express the diagnosis such as developmental disability or intellectual disability, and plain and simple, this word is offensive regardless if it is used clinically or not. 

For more information or to take the pledge to eliminate the "r-word" from your vocabulary, please visit the Spread the Word to End the Word’s official website.