People First Language (PFL) puts the person before a certain characteristic or diagnosis rather than defining someone by that characteristic or diagnosis. PFL uses phrases such as “person with a disability,” “person with a mental health condition,” and “person age 65 or older,” as opposed to phrases that identify people based solely on one characteristic, such as “the disabled,” “mentally ill person,” and “elderly person.” DHS is committed to using PFL in all communications.
Note: How someone self-identifies may differ from People First Language, (example: “autistic” instead of “person with autism”), and they should not be corrected.
PFL is also an element of disability etiquette, which refers to respectful communication and interaction with people who have disabilities. The principles of disability etiquette are fairly simple. First and foremost, rely on common sense to guide your interactions with people with disabilities and behave in the same courteous and respectful way with individuals with disabilities that you would with anyone. (For more on disability etiquette, visit https://askearn.org/topics/retention-advancement/disability-etiquette/).
“People First Language is about respect and dignity, and it puts the person – not the condition – first. Like gender and ethnicity, disability is one of many characteristics of being human. PFL is not political correctness, but good manners!” (Source: https://www.disabilityisnatural.com/people-first-language.html)
People First Language Examples
| Say this | Instead of this |
|---|---|
| person with a disability, person with a developmental disability, person with an intellectual disability | disabled, developmentally disabled person, intellectually disabled person |
| person who uses a wheelchair | wheelchair user, wheelchair bound |
| person with autism | autistic |
| person with a mental health condition | mentally ill person |
| person with schizophrenia | schizophrenic person |
| person with bipolar disorder | bipolar person |
| accessible parking, accessible restrooms | handicapped parking, handicapped restrooms |
| person with a health condition | stricken with, a victim of, suffering from a health condition |
| person with diabetes | diabetics |
| person with substance use disorder | addicts |
| person with a low income | poor |
| person age 65 or older | elderly |
| person who is unhoused | homeless |
| person who is undocumented | illegal |