Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
Delaware lawmakers approve bill requiring "respectful" references to persons with disabilities :: The Republic
State lawmakers have given final approval to a bill requiring government officials to avoid using certain language when referring to people with disabilities.
The bill, which was approved unanimously Thursday in both the House and Senate, calls for certain sections of Delaware's laws, rules and regulations to avoid terms such "mentally ill," ''retarded," and "disabled."
Examples of the proper respectful language include "persons with a disability" instead of "disabled person," and "person who is deaf" instead of "deaf person."
The bill is part of a nationwide "People First Language" movement to promote dignity and inclusion for people with disabilities.
Lawmakers agreed to remove several sections of the bill revising provisions of Delaware's criminal code because of concerns about the potential effect of revising those terms.
State lawmakers have given final approval to a bill requiring government officials to avoid using certain language when referring to people with disabilities.
The bill, which was approved unanimously Thursday in both the House and Senate, calls for certain sections of Delaware's laws, rules and regulations to avoid terms such "mentally ill," ''retarded," and "disabled."
Examples of the proper respectful language include "persons with a disability" instead of "disabled person," and "person who is deaf" instead of "deaf person."
The bill is part of a nationwide "People First Language" movement to promote dignity and inclusion for people with disabilities.
Lawmakers agreed to remove several sections of the bill revising provisions of Delaware's criminal code because of concerns about the potential effect of revising those terms.