ACR 60, as introduced, Santiago. Education: students with disabilities.
This measure would recognize the necessity of a more respectful and humanistic view of students with disabilities, and would affirm that state policies and procedures should use People First Language to the greatest extent possible.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, All students deserve to be treated with dignity and
2respect; and
3WHEREAS, About 686,000 students with disabilities receive
4special education services in California, comprising about 10
5percent of the state’s public school enrollment; and
6WHEREAS, Students with disabilities are sons, daughters,
7sisters, brothers, friends, and neighbors; and
8WHEREAS, The contributions of students with disabilities
9enrich our communities as they live, learn, and share their lives;
10and
11WHEREAS, The language used to refer to students with
12disabilities has a profound impact in shaping beliefs and attitudes
13about these students, driving policies and laws, influencing our
14feelings and decisions, and affecting students’ daily lives; and
P2 1WHEREAS, Old, inaccurate, and inappropriate descriptors about
2students with disabilities perpetuate negative stereotypes and
3attitudinal barriers; and
4WHEREAS, When we identify or describe students with
5disabilities primarily in terms of their disability or medical
6diagnosis, we undervalue and stigmatize them; and
7WHEREAS, Using thoughtful terminology can foster positive
8attitudes about students with disabilities; and
9WHEREAS, One of the major improvements in communicating
10verbally or in writing with or about students with disabilities is
11People First Language, which places the person ahead of his or
12her disability; and
13WHEREAS, People First Language is an objective form of
14communication that eliminates generalizations and stereotypes by
15focusing on the person rather than the disability; and
16WHEREAS, We do not refer to a child with cancer as a
17“cancerous child,” and similarly, we should not refer to a child
18with autism as an “autistic child” or a child with epilepsy as “an
19epileptic child”; and
20WHEREAS, A recent report of California’s Statewide Task
21Force on Special Education entitled, “One System: Reforming
22Education to Serve All Students,” called for a unified, inclusive
23educational system that supports all students based on individual
24needs; and
25WHEREAS, The manner in which written and verbal policies
26and communications refer to students with disabilities can further
27this important state educational goal; and
28WHEREAS, The California Legislature recognizes the necessity
29of a more respectful and humanistic view of students with
30disabilities; now, therefore, be it
31Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
32thereof concurring, That the Legislature affirms that state policies
33and procedures should utilize People First Language to the greatest
34extent possible, especially those utilized by state and local
35educational agencies; and be it further
36Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
37of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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