Saturday, October 23, 2010

People First Language

In recent years, politically correct language has gained a somewhat bad reputation -- denigrated to a manipulative tool used to appease overly-sensitive citizens. Although I agree that sometimes politically-correct language can be taken too far, I am a firm believer in its value. The words you use shape your thoughts. If you are accustomed to speaking about certain people in a dehumanizing way, your thoughts will be shaped into thinking that they are less than human.

People-first language is about speaking of people in a way that honors their dignity, humanity, and individualism. It seeks to reduce misunderstandings and prejudice.


Here are some examples of people-first language and non-people-first language, respectively:

He has a learning disability vs He is learning disabled

She has a physical disability vs She is crippled

John uses a wheelchair vs John is wheelchair-bound

Sue has a mental illness vs Sue is crazy

Jim has Down's Syndrome vs Jim is retarded.

Can you see the differences between the two? People-first language honors the person first and mentions the disability or challenge as a secondary feature. Don't get carried away -- sometimes people-first language can get repetitive and awkward if you take it too far. The important thing to remember is to be mindful of being respectful.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

GCG Surgery Center Launches Site

I'm pleased to announce that GCG Surgery Center has updated their webpage to include pictures of the surgery center, Dr. Paul Griffith, as well as a link to AAAHC -- the organization through which GCG Surgery Center is accredited.

As one of the only surgery centers in Northern California who does sedation dentistry for adult patients, GCG Surgery Center provides a much-needed service for an underserved population. If you're interested, go to the GCG Surgery Center website for more information