Pledge of Respect
All students, especially students with disabilities, have the right to dignity and respect. They have the right to be respected as a whole person and not be judged by just their disability.
The SCCOE has committed to become an agent of change for our community. You or your agency can join us. Please fill the form below to make a pledge.
I pledge to:
- Place the student first before the disability
- A child with autism, instead of an autistic child
- Place groups of students first before the disability
- Students in special education, instead of special education students
- Use respectful terms when referring to peer groups
- Students without disabilities instead of typical students
- Model back Person-First Terminology when others do not use it
- When someone says, "special education students..." just continue the conversation by modeling back, "yes.... students in special education..."
- Inform others about Person-First Terminology
- Remember that changing the way we speak is a process and takes time
Date last updated: September 12, 2011
