Person-first vs identity-first language: Which one should I use?

When I was going through school back in the late 90s and early 2000s, I was taught that “person-first” language was the most respectful way to refer to my clients.

For example, they weren’t “disabled people”, they were “people with disabilities”.

Fast forward to the 2020s, and now we’re hearing a different story.

Now, there are many people who actually prefer “identity first” language.

If you’re someone supporting someone who has some particular diagnosis or disability, it’s confusing enough to navigate the system when it comes to educational and medical services.

Add language and terminology on top of that, and it gets even more overwhelming.

I’ve heard this debate from multiple angles.

Some have a strong preferences for one type of language over the other. Others are more flexible.

And then there is a group of people who aren’t even fully aware of this debate and what it means…especially if they are brand new to the world of educational or medical services for kids.

That’s why in this episode, I wanted to share the background and rationale behind both “person first” and “identity first language” based on my experience working as a clinician since 2004 and also as someone who has a diagnosis myself. In this episode, I mentioned some research relating to labeling theory and self-fulfilling prophecies.  Here is some more information about that. Also, here is some information about  where the term originated.

I also mentioned the Executive Functioning Guide for Parents in this episode. In this guide I outline what executive functioning is and why it’s so important to helping kids grow up to be resilient, adaptable, and independent.

In this guide I walk through red flags of executive dysfunction, as well as how to identify specific areas of executive functioning where your kids might need support. You can get the free parent guide at drkarendudekbrannan.com/parentguide The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding. 

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