Person-First Language

Person-first language puts the individual first before the disability. It's so important to realize that no one is defined by their disability or illness. I think that person-first language is so great because it can also help improve a person's self-esteem. For example, which phrase would you rather hear if you had ADHD: "The ADHD kid" or "The child with ADHD."  The latter is much more respectful and acknowledges that ADHD is not the defining feature of the person. Person-first language parallels to the top-down approach that we use in occupational therapy. As OT's we look at the person before we look at the disability or illness.