Author: Victoria

Do you know how to refer to someone with a disability?

Posted on | by Victoria | Leave a Comment on Do you know how to refer to someone with a disability?

By Matthew Louis LaGassa Published March 3, 2023

Reviewed by Victoria Wells

 

About the Author:

Matthew Louis LaGassa (born March 2002) was diagnosed Autistic when he was two years old, and has always thought of his neurodivergency as a core part of his identity. Outside of his internship here at CIL, he’s a Junior year student at Rollins College, majoring in in English and minoring in Writing, with a knack for analytical essay writing. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, videogames, tabletop roleplaying games, and baking.

 

 

A Word From the Intern, Matthew LaGassa, About CIL, Disability Referral Language, and You

Just as there are many types of disabilities, there are many ways to refer to disabilities, called disability referral languages. Though the language used by this CIL has remained consistent for decades, the decision to do so is not a unanimous one, as I can personally attest to. With the center refreshing its readers on all the various disabilities and how our services support people with them, I’m likewise taking this time to refresh readers on the variances in language surrounding said individuals. We will also discuss why CIL uses the language it does, my own story in regard to these languages, and how to properly use disability referral language in daily life.

 

People-First Language: What it is and Why the Center uses it

As our readers should know, CIL’s writing employs people-first language, “language that puts a person before their diagnosis,” manifesting through phrases such as “people living with disabilities,” (Okundaye, 2021; CIL, n.d.). This type of language is used to acknowledge “a person’s humanity before conveying an objective fact,” such as saying someone “uses a wheelchair,” instead of referring to them as “wheelchair-bound,” which evokes “the language of pity, as in ‘confined to a wheelchair’… as it makes the person seem powerless,” (Research and Training Center on Independent Living, n.d.; Woolfolk, 2018, p. 123). This language originated in the 1970s as part of the Disability Rights Movement, providing “a way to acknowledge that a person’s disability is only one aspect of their identity,” with the intention of eliminating dehumanizing stereotypes that can form from the language of pity. This language has seen use in landmark legislation like the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act with terms like “people with physical or mental disabilities,” and the People First Respectful Language Modernization Act of 2006, requires its use “in all new and revised District laws, regulations, rules, and publications and all internet publications,” (ADA.gov, n.d.; Office of Disability Rights, n.d.). This legal recognition is what motivates our Center’s adherence to the language, but on smaller levels, from groups to individuals, things are not so clear-cut.

 

Identity-First Language: What it is and Why I use it

Though the articles I have personally contributed to employ person-first language, I prefer to be referred to through identity-first language, “language that leads with a person’s diagnosis,” which, in my case, is being referred to as Autistic (Okundaye). As someone who was diagnosed Autistic at a very young age, I’ve always considered my Autism a vital part of who I am. The deep pride I take in my Autism serves as the backbone of my acceptance of being referred to as Autistic, Neurodivergent, and a special needs individual. Special needs individual is the referral term I prefer using in speaking and writing, as evidenced by my usage of it when editing “CSR and CIL: Why we should collaborate” (2023) over the Center’s standard “individuals with disabilities,” as seen in the published version (Wells). I am, however, no stranger to people-first language. In my Educational Psychology class at Rollins College, the textbook we used, Anita Woolfolk’s Educational Psychology (14th Edition), recommended the use of people-first language when referring to students with disabilities to avoid the language of pity, as described in the previous paragraph (p. 123). Though I understand the textbook’s perspective, and absolutely agree with avoiding the language of pity when referring to anyone with special needs, for others like myself, person-first language ironically victimizes us further, denying how we consider the disability to be vital parts or who we are and the lives we live (Okundaye).

 

Listening to and Using Language

There will never be a language type that works for everyone all of the time, especially in large-scale contexts like our Center’s work, so we use people-first language to err on the side of caution and remain consistent with legal history. Meanwhile, in individual and small group discussions which include people like us, where personal preference reigns supreme, what matters most is listening to us: listen to the language we use, recognize how the language you use to refer to us makes us feel, and give us our rightful say in how we want to be referred to. Whether we prefer people-first or identity-first language, listening to us is what truly safeguards our personhood.

 

References

  • About Us. CIL. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://cilorlando.org/about/about-us/
  • Americans with disabilities act of 1990, as amended. ADA.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada/
  • Guidelines. Guidelines | Research & Training Center on Independent Living. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://rtcil.org/guidelines
  • Okundaye, J. (2021, May 27). Ask a self-advocate: The pros and cons of person-first and identity-first language. Massachusetts Advocates for Children. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.massadvocates.org/news/ask-a-self-advocate-the-pros-and-cons-of-person-first-and-identity-first-language
  • People first language. Office of Disability Rights. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://odr.dc.gov/page/people-first-language#:~:text=The%20People%20First%20Respectful%20Language,and%20publications%20and%20all%20internet
  • Wells, V. (2023, February 16). CSR and CIL: Why we should collaborate. CIL. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://cilorlando.org/csr-and-cil/

CSR and CIL: Why we should collaborate

Posted on | by Victoria | Leave a Comment on CSR and CIL: Why we should collaborate

By Victoria Wells   Published February 16, 2023

Reviewed by Matthew LaGassa

and Roshana Rollock-Agarrat

 

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and How it Came to Be

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a term that perhaps ten years ago, you may have never encountered in day-to-day life, however it is now becoming a crucial determining factor regarding the health of a company and is a widely accepted expectation of corporations. The consensus on the origin of the concept of CSR is that it arose from Howard Bowen’s book “Social Responsibilities of the Businessman” published in 1953. According to Mr. Bowen, those responsibilities meant, “the obligations of businessmen to pursue those policies, to make those decisions, or to follow those lines of action that are desirable in terms of the objectives and values of our society.”  Investopedia defines CSR as a “self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public (Fernando, 2022).”  Today, many companies have wisely chosen to align their corporate giving and volunteering efforts with their company’s specific mission and values.

What CSR Looks Like

CSR efforts are displayed in various and sometimes creative ways depending on the company’s structure and focus. Some companies have created grants for non-profits and community groups to apply to; have internal funds designated that employees may request for their charity of choice; have committees who vote on the year’s giving and volunteering efforts; give only at the corporate or local level; or give through different budgets such as marketing or HR by decision of only one or two executives. Since its rise, corporate sponsorships have become a crucial part of the operating budgets and yearly planning process for non-profits around the United States.

Why CSR is Important

While doing good for good’s sake is noble and encouraged, executives often require financial justification for any action taken on the company’s behalf.  CSR is becoming increasingly justified by the many studies emerging that shopping has changed. Upcoming generations require companies to display social consciousness in order to justify their purchases and are willing to pay more when they know that the company they are supporting is also supporting their community. Companies like Coca-Cola have switched to 100% recyclable materials, “Wells Fargo donates up to 1.5% of its revenue to charitable causes each year to more than 14,500 nonprofits”, and Patagonia sets the environmental example throughout every step of their production and managing process (Digital Marketing Institute, 2022).” “Community-oriented companies often enjoy a leg up on their competition as well, thanks to superior brand imaging (Murphy, Investopedia, 2022).” In addition to giving, CSR is about the internal health of your company- are your employees treated well and paid fairly; do you try to implement diversity and inclusivity initiatives, do you hold your managers accountable; and many more considerations. The time to be intentional about your company’s corporate social responsibility is now.

CSR’s Impact

“Even the smallest initiative can have an impact on a community (Investopedia, 2022b).” CIL’s Foundations to Freedom program operates on that principle.  Through this program, we help return independence to individuals with disabilities through the provision and installation of equipment such as ramps and shower grab bars into their homes.  Companies partner with us through not only sponsoring but also volunteering to a build ramp at individual’s home in the Central Florida region.  A single ramp can cost thousands of dollars for an individual but through this program, they receive it for free and the result is immediate. These ramps change people’s lives by restoring access once again to their community.

How CIL Provides the Avenue

“One of the reasons that I like to do these builds and to give back is that these are people that until you get to know them, they’re invisible to us, yet they live next door. One of the builds that I did four years ago…is not but two miles from my house.” said Chris from Cuhaci Peterson commenting on partnering with CIL to build a ramp in Sanford, FL (YouTube, 2022).

To put the impact these ramps have in further perspective, AARP reported that if the financial contribution of American’s 50 and up were considered an economy, they would constitute the world’s third largest economy, following the U.S. and China (Terrel, AARP, 2019). CIL serves every age and disability; however, the majority of our ramps are built for seniors. Thus, with every ramp built, your company is not only making a direct impact in the accessibility in someone’s life, but also assisting with that major contribution to local economies.

Why CIL

Our program is a wonderful opportunity for companies to satisfy their corporate social responsibilities while helping make people visible again. Foundations to Freedom builds a path to independence, re-instating access and inclusion for our neighbors to their communities. It provides an excellent team building experience for your companies’ employees and produces an immediate return on investment.

We are actively seeking community partners that want an effective program to put their dollars and their team’s volunteering efforts towards.   This program satisfies every aspect of CSR needed by providing a community-based, team building, diversity, equity, and inclusion focused sponsorship opportunity to help an individual in need.

 

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