BILL NUMBER: ACR 60	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Santiago

                        APRIL 28, 2015

   Relative to education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   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.



   WHEREAS, All students deserve to be treated with dignity and
respect; and
   WHEREAS, About 686,000 students with disabilities receive special
education services in California, comprising about 10 percent of the
state's public school enrollment; and
   WHEREAS, Students with disabilities are sons, daughters, sisters,
brothers, friends, and neighbors; and
   WHEREAS, The contributions of students with disabilities enrich
our communities as they live, learn, and share their lives; and
   WHEREAS, The language used to refer to students with disabilities
has a profound impact in shaping beliefs and attitudes about these
students, driving policies and laws, influencing our feelings and
decisions, and affecting students' daily lives; and
   WHEREAS, Old, inaccurate, and inappropriate descriptors about
students with disabilities perpetuate negative stereotypes and
attitudinal barriers; and
   WHEREAS, When we identify or describe students with disabilities
primarily in terms of their disability or medical diagnosis, we
undervalue and stigmatize them; and
   WHEREAS, Using thoughtful terminology can foster positive
attitudes about students with disabilities; and
   WHEREAS, One of the major improvements in communicating verbally
or in writing with or about students with disabilities is People
First Language, which places the person ahead of his or her
disability; and
   WHEREAS, People First Language is an objective form of
communication that eliminates generalizations and stereotypes by
focusing on the person rather than the disability; and
   WHEREAS, We do not refer to a child with cancer as a "cancerous
child," and similarly, we should not refer to a child with autism as
an "autistic child" or a child with epilepsy as "an epileptic child";
and
   WHEREAS, A recent report of California's Statewide Task Force on
Special Education entitled, "One System: Reforming Education to Serve
All Students," called for a unified, inclusive educational system
that supports all students based on individual needs; and
   WHEREAS, The manner in which written and verbal policies and
communications refer to students with disabilities can further this
important state educational goal; and
   WHEREAS, The California Legislature recognizes the necessity of a
more respectful and humanistic view of students with disabilities;
now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature affirms that state policies
and procedures should utilize People First Language to the greatest
extent possible, especially those utilized by state and local
educational agencies; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.