PRINTER'S NO. 885
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
113
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY KITCHEN, VANCE, TEPLITZ, WOZNIAK, DINNIMAN,
FONTANA, BREWSTER, COSTA, BAKER, RAFFERTY, AUMENT,
VULAKOVICH, SCAVELLO, FARNESE, SMITH, TARTAGLIONE AND
WILLIAMS, MAY 8, 2015
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MAY 8, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Commonwealth to adopt and utilize person-first
language with respect to people with disabilities.
WHEREAS, Approximately one in every six residents of this
Commonwealth is a person with a disability; and
WHEREAS, These persons, approximately 1.8 million
individuals, comprise every geographic, socioeconomic, racial,
ethnic, age, gender and religious group; and
WHEREAS, These persons, approximately 700,000 children and
youths and 1.1 million adults, are a part of our communities,
schools and workplaces; and
WHEREAS, People with disabilities are protected by Federal
and State laws prohibiting discrimination and promoting
integration, inclusion and participation in society, including
in the receipt of services, education, employment,
transportation and housing; and
WHEREAS, People with disabilities continue to encounter
negative attitudes, barriers, segregation, discrimination and
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isolation in society; and
WHEREAS, Using language that puts a disability before the
individual or that describes the individual by a medical
diagnosis devalues and disrespects the humanity of that
individual; and
WHEREAS, Inaccurate descriptions, outdated words,
generalizations and other negative language about people with
disabilities contribute to stigma, misinformation, negative
stereotypes and attitudinal barriers; and
WHEREAS, Person-first language, also known as people-first
language, places the individual before the disability and uses
neutral, objective, accurate and nonpejorative language; and
WHEREAS, Person-first language results in positive, realistic
and balanced communication about people with disabilities and
treats each person as an individual not defined solely by a
disability; and
WHEREAS, Language shapes the ideas, attitudes and beliefs of
individuals and society; and
WHEREAS, Language thus influences government decisions,
policies and laws; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize that the use of language
that is not person-first language with respect to people with
disabilities hinders their integration, inclusion, participation
and respect in society and negatively influences government
decisions, policies and laws; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge adoption and utilization by
the Commonwealth of person-first language with respect to people
with disabilities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge adoption and utilization of
person-first language in legislation, cosponsorship memos,
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reports, policies and other documents of the General Assembly in
print or electronic format; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge adoption and utilization of
person-first language by executive branch agencies and the
judiciary in regulations, policies, reports and other documents
in print or electronic format; and be it further
RESOLVED, That, for purposes of this resolution, person-first
language or people-first language means language that places the
individual before his or her disability, does not reduce the
individual to a series of labels, symptoms or medical terms and
does not use outdated, inaccurate or pejorative descriptors or
terms; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the following examples serve as models of
appropriate use of person-first language:
(1) "individual with a disability," not "disabled
individual";
(2) "individual who uses a wheelchair," not "individual
who is wheelchair-bound" or "confined to a wheelchair";
(3) "individuals who are blind," not "the blind";
(4) "an individual with a mental health condition," not
"an individual who suffers from a mental disorder";
(5) "individual with paraplegia," not "a paraplegic";
(6) "individual who is deaf or hard of hearing," not
"the deaf" or "the hard of hearing"; and
(7) "individual with an intellectual disability," not
"mental retardation";
and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the Honorable Tom Wolf, Governor, and to the Honorable Thomas
Saylor, the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
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