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Disability 101:
Getting Comfortable with the Language of Disability
There is no need to be uncomfortable when talking to or about people with disabilities. At the same time, it's unnecessary to constantly search for the new "politically correct" buzzword of the month. Instead, The Abilities Fund advocates for the use of language that adequately reflects the situation and puts the person first.
No one is "disabled." Rather, there are individuals who "have disabilities." This distinction is commonly called Person First Language. People are people, and all people have hopes, dreams, families, friends, bills, responsibiilties, etc...some people also have a disability.
A disability is just part of who a person is and should be treated accordingly.
How should a microenterprise program refer to a client with a disability? As a potential entrepreneur and business owner, just like your other clients!
In the past some microenterprise organizations have expressed discomfort when serving individuals with disabilities. However, this discomfort should dissolve when we focus on why the individual has contacted your program: They seek business guidance and assistance. They are not asking you to make any disability determinations, medical diagnoses or provide rehabilitation services. They need your expertise in business development, plain and simple.
If, in the course of offering microenterprise development services, disability specific issues need to be addressed:
1. Talk to the client directly (if you are comfortable)
2. Seek assistance from a rehabilitation counselor (if the individual is a VR client)
3. Contact The Abilities Fund staff (with your client's permission)
There is no shame in having a disability, the only shameful thing is how people have mistreated individuals with disabilities in the past. Let your programs be the model for accessibility and respectful services and you will learn this is a very entrepreneurial population.
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