A Note from Our Executive Director

Dear Friends:

Do you use Person First Language (PFL) when referring to people with disabilities?  People should not be defined by their disability but should be recognized as a person first and foremost. PFL communicates knowledge and respect by choosing words that recognize the person rather than the disability.
 
Beyond Person First Language:
  • Do not refer to a disability unless it is crucial to your subject and relates to the full understanding of your listener or reader.
  • Avoid portraying as superhuman the accomplishments of a person with a disability. This inadvertently implies that a person with a disability lacks or has very limited skills, talents, or unusual gifts.
  • Do not use subjective terms such as afflicted with, victim of, troubled with, suffering from and so on. Such expressions convey negative connotations. It is preferable to use an expression such as a person who has (a specific disability).
  • Avoid labeling persons and putting them in categories, as in the handicapped, the disabled, the deaf, the learning disabled, and so on. Instead, use terminology such as: a person who has multiple sclerosis, people with disabilities, a person with deafness, and so on.
  • Emphasize the individual not the disability. Rather than using terms such as disabled person, handicapped people, a crippled person, use terms such as people/persons with disabilities, a person with a disability, or a person with a visual impairment.
  • Do not use subjective descriptors such as "unfortunate", "pitiful", or "sad" when describing people with disabilities. Emphasize abilities, for example, instead of saying John is confined to his wheelchair, use a positive expression of ability such as John uses a wheelchair.
  • Avoid comparing a disability with a disease. Do not refer to a person with disability as a patient unless he/she is under medical care.
 
Join me in using Person First Language, and I invite you to share this information with others. Additionally there are a number of wonderful resources for PFL on the internet  including REACH Resource Centers on Independent Living who provided part of this valuable information.

As always, I want to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me by email  or by phone at 513-241-2600, extension 211.

Sincerely,

Rob

PS- I once again have a $10 Starbucks gift card for the first person to email me after having read this article!
  
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October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

I n October, Americans observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month by recognizing the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep the nation's economy strong and by reaffirming their commitment to ensure equal opportunity for all citizens.
This effort to educate the public about the issues related to disability and employment began in 1945, when Congress enacted Public Law 176, declaring the first week of October each year as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week". In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. Some 25 years later, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.



Independent Living/Peer Support

Writer's Express has partnered with  Vulcans Forge, a regional grassroots arts organization where local artists and activists produce and exhibit the talent of the uniquely abled. This group will meet twice in October - see the flyer here



Last day for voter registration is October 7th! 
  
To check your registration or to register:
Ohio - click here 
Kentucky - click here






Shopping at Amazon can benefit CILO!  Every time you make a qualifying purchase at  www.smile.amazon.com 0.5% comes back to CILO! Just sign in with your regular Amazon credentials and select Independent Living Options (Cincinnati) as your charity and begin shopping and supporting.

Kroger Community Rewards

Looking for a super easy way to support CILO? Learn how shopping at Kroger for your back to school needs can benefit our programs and services throughout the year. Read more here!


Do you have a question about how you can support CILO?
Contact Debbie Moorehous, Director of Advancement by email 
or phone 513.241.2600 ext. 123 


Do you need our newsletter or other CILO publication 
in an alternative format?
Contact us at 513.241.2600 Ext. 123 or send your request via email.