Our Mission:To promote an inclusive community in Island & Skagit Counties with equal opportunity & full participation for children and adults with disabilities by advocating, supporting, educating and empowering these individuals and their family members.
We want children and adults with disabilities to experience equality in all areas of their lives - at home, work & play:
"Disability is a natural part of the human experience that does not
diminish the right of individuals with developmental disabilities to
enjoy the opportunity to live independently, enjoy self-determination,
make choices, contribute to society, and experience full integration
and inclusion in the economic, political, social, cultural, and
educational mainstream of American society."
Federal Law (42 USC 15001 SEC. 101.) "If it's not right for people WITHOUT disabilities, it's not right for people WITH disabilities." Kathie Snow |
   The Arc of Island & Skagit is a registered nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization and accepts donations both in support of its general operations and for specific purposes. Coming events |
People First Language
Let's put the person first, not the disability!
Do the words used to describe you have an impact on your life? You bet! Contrary to the age-old "sticks and stones" lesson we learned as children, words do matter!
For too long, people who happen to have conditions we call "disabilities" have been subjected to devaluation, marginalization, prejudice, and more. And the first way to devalue someone is through language, by using words or labels to identify a person/group as "less-than," as "the others—not like us," and so forth. Once a person/group has been identified this way, it makes it easier to justify prejudice and discrimination. Our language shapes our attitudes; our attitudes shape our language; they're intertwined. And our attitudes and language drive our actions!
Using People First Language—putting the person before the disability—and eliminating old, prejudicial, and hurtful descriptors, can move us in a new direction. People First Language is not political correctness; instead, it demonstrates good manners, respect, the Golden Rule, and more--it can change the way we see a person--read the powerful "One Mother's Testimony" on the Explore/News and Notes page of Disability is Natural website.
Click here to download the People First Language Pledge.
The above "People First article" is an excerpt taken from www.disabilityisnatural.com written by Kathie Snow.
Do the words used to describe you have an impact on your life? You bet! Contrary to the age-old "sticks and stones" lesson we learned as children, words do matter!
For too long, people who happen to have conditions we call "disabilities" have been subjected to devaluation, marginalization, prejudice, and more. And the first way to devalue someone is through language, by using words or labels to identify a person/group as "less-than," as "the others—not like us," and so forth. Once a person/group has been identified this way, it makes it easier to justify prejudice and discrimination. Our language shapes our attitudes; our attitudes shape our language; they're intertwined. And our attitudes and language drive our actions!
Using People First Language—putting the person before the disability—and eliminating old, prejudicial, and hurtful descriptors, can move us in a new direction. People First Language is not political correctness; instead, it demonstrates good manners, respect, the Golden Rule, and more--it can change the way we see a person--read the powerful "One Mother's Testimony" on the Explore/News and Notes page of Disability is Natural website.
Click here to download the People First Language Pledge.
The above "People First article" is an excerpt taken from www.disabilityisnatural.com written by Kathie Snow.
