Comments on: Impacting Language http://embracingchaos.stephanieallencrist.com/2010/05/impacting-language/ The Autism Blog Wed, 16 May 2012 23:33:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Stephanie http://embracingchaos.stephanieallencrist.com/2010/05/impacting-language/comment-page-1/#comment-6786 Stephanie Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:59:33 +0000 http://embracingchaos.stephanieallencrist.com/?p=229#comment-6786 In the context of obtaining funding (Autism Speaks comes to mind really quick), organizations sometimes sensationalize the experiences of their target population in order to make the need for funding seem more urgent. But, at the same time, they erode the value of the people they claim they are trying to help. This seems to be less of a problem with organizations who include the target population in all areas of their organization, including and especially in the project design process. This is just one more reason that inclusion is so important. "Nothing about us without us." In the context of obtaining funding (Autism Speaks comes to mind really quick), organizations sometimes sensationalize the experiences of their target population in order to make the need for funding seem more urgent. But, at the same time, they erode the value of the people they claim they are trying to help. This seems to be less of a problem with organizations who include the target population in all areas of their organization, including and especially in the project design process. This is just one more reason that inclusion is so important. “Nothing about us without us.”

]]> By: Ashley http://embracingchaos.stephanieallencrist.com/2010/05/impacting-language/comment-page-1/#comment-6715 Ashley Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:04:04 +0000 http://embracingchaos.stephanieallencrist.com/?p=229#comment-6715 Wow, he sure was courageous to silence the inappropriate behaviour, especially because it isn't really a "cool" thing to do. I also really like the "don't sensationalize" bit. Phrases like "Afflicted with" assume that a person is suffering simply because of his or her circumstance. It's not fair -- ignorant actually -- to make such an assumption. Also, "afflicted" conditions the reader to think of the subject as a victim which is just plain mean. It encourages the reader to think this person can't help him or herself, that she is less capable than others or unable. Wow, he sure was courageous to silence the inappropriate behaviour, especially because it isn’t really a “cool” thing to do.

I also really like the “don’t sensationalize” bit. Phrases like “Afflicted with” assume that a person is suffering simply because of his or her circumstance. It’s not fair — ignorant actually — to make such an assumption. Also, “afflicted” conditions the reader to think of the subject as a victim which is just plain mean. It encourages the reader to think this person can’t help him or herself, that she is less capable than others or unable.

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