New Haven Updates, Modernizes References to People with Disabilities
/New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker has signed a new city ordinance into law that replaces outdated language that was previously used throughout city law with more modern and respectful “Person First Language” when referring to people with disabilities.
“The City of New Haven is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive place for all our residents, and the language used in our laws and by our government must reflect that. Updating and modernizing the terminology used in our ordinances to be more respectful and honoring of people with disabilities was the right thing to do and, frankly, long overdue, and I’m glad this bill is now law,” said Mayor Elicker.
“I want to thank Director Knauff and the Commission on Disabilities for championing this legislation and for their continued advocacy on behalf our residents with disabilities, and I also want to thank the Board of Alders for their unanimous vote of support.”
Language used to refer to people with disabilities has changed over the decades and the updated Person First Language emphasizes the person first rather than the disability by using phrases such as, “a person who …”, “a person with …” or, “person who has …”.
For example, in the ordinance amendments, the term “person with a disability” is substituted for the term “handicapped person” and the term “intellectual disability” is substituted for the outdated term “mental retardation.” All the specific language changes in the City’s ordinances can be found here.
“Language is important in the way that see each other and the world around us. Updating the terminology in the ordinances communicates a respect for people with disabilities as important members of the City with valued contributions to all aspects of our culture and community,” said Gretchen Knauff, Director of the City’s Department of Services for Persons with Disabilities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 4 U.S adults report having some form of a disability. The CDC also provides general tips and examples on person first language on its website. The State of Connecticut, in accordance with legislation passed in 2017, has made similar revisions to its statutory language.
The ordinance was submitted by Director Knauff to the Board of Alders on July 5, passed out of the Legislation Committee on August 2, passed by the full Board of Alders on September 19, delivered to the mayor on October 26, and signed into law by Mayor Elicker on November 3. The ordinance is entitled, “Ordinance Amendment to Modernize City Ordinances to Reflect Language that is Respectful to People with Disabilities”. The ordinance amendment, including all updated and modernized language, can be found here and additional related documents can be found here.
The ARC of Greater New Haven website points out that “The language a society uses to refer to persons with disabilities shapes its beliefs and ideas about them. Words are powerful; Old, inaccurate, and inappropriate descriptors perpetuate negative stereotypes and attitudinal barriers. When we describe people by their labels of medical diagnoses, we devalue and disrespect them as individuals. In contrast, using thoughtful terminology can foster positive attitudes about persons with disabilities. One of the major improvements in communicating with and about people with disabilities is’People-First Language.’”
The site ads that “People-First Language emphasizes the person, not the disability. By placing the person first, the disability is no longer the primary, defining characteristic of an individual, but one of several aspects of the whole person. People-First Language is an objective way of acknowledging, communicating, and reporting on disabilities. It eliminates generalizations and stereotypes, by focusing on the person rather than the disability.”
New Haven residents with disabilities can learn more about available resources, report an accessibility issue, and more by going to newhavenct.gov/disability or by contacting the New Haven Department of Disability Services at 203-946-7651 or TTY/TDD at 203-946-8582.
