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Disability Etiquette

The way a society refers to persons with disabilities shapes its beliefs and ideas about them. Using appropriate terms can foster positive attitudes about persons with disabilities. One of the major improvements in communicating with and about people with disabilities is “people-first” language. People-first language emphasizes the person, not the disability. By placing the person first, the disability is no longer the primary, defining characteristic of an individual but one of several aspects of the whole person.

For example, it is preferred to say, “people with disabilities” instead of “the disabled,” or “Mary has a vision impairment” instead of labeling the person by saying, “Mary is blind.”

An exception to this rule is for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. In general, the deaf community does not like to be referred to as having hearing impairments. It prefers deaf or hard of hearing. Use “hard of hearing” to refer to people who have hearing loss but communicate in spoken language. “People with hearing loss” is also considered acceptable. Many people who are deaf and communicate with sign language consider themselves to be members of a cultural and linguistic minority. They refer to themselves as Deaf with a capital “D” and may be offended by the term “hearing impaired.”

Also, people with disabilities may use the words disabled and crip to refer to themselves. They would also be likely to say, “I am blind,” or “I am a paraplegic.”

Using “crip” language is part of the disability culture. However, people without disabilities should not use this terminology.

If you don’t know the appropriate words to use, simply ask the person what is preferred.

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Shriners Hospitals for Children

Shriners Hospitals for Children
Through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Our 22 locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Vitals:
+ w: Shriners Hospitals for Children
+ p: 800-237-5055

All Children's Hospital

All Children's Hospital
All Children's Hospital provides expert pediatric care for children and families from all across the state of Florida and beyond. Named a top 50 children's hospital by U.S. News & World Report, we provide compassionate, state-of-the-art care for infants, children and teens with some of the most challenging medical problems.

Vitals:
+ w: All Children's Hospital
+ p: 800-456-4543

St. Louis Children's Hospital

St. Louis Children's Hospital
Founded in 1879, St. Louis Children's Hospital is one of the premier children's hospitals in the United States. It serves not just the children of St. Louis, but children across the world. The hospital provides a full range of pediatric services to the St. Louis metropolitan area and a primary service region covering six states.

Vitals:
+ w: st. louis children's hospital
+ p: 314.454.6000

MUSC Children's Hospital

MUSC Children's Hospital
An integral part of the Medical University of South Carolina, the MUSC Children's Hospital is dedicated to enhancing the health of children throughout South Carolina, and to providing an environment that supports excellence in pediatric patient care, teaching and research.

Vitals:
+ w: MUSC Children's Hospital
+ p: 843-792-1414

The Family Cafe

The Family Cafe
The Family Café began in 1998 as an attempt to meet an urgent need among persons with disabilities and their families: the need for information. To meet that need, The Family Café created an annual conference that would serve as a clearinghouse of information. The conference would provide a unique environment, where families could connect with peers, commercial service providers, and public entities to find out what services were available to them, which best met their needs, and how to go about securing those services.

Vitals:
+ w: The Family Cafe
+ p: (850) 224-4670

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