Governor Spitzer signs “Person First” Legislation


George E. Fertal Sr. ,Chairperson	Governor David A. Paterson	Sheila M. Carey, Executive Director
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Public Hearing on the Draft of the Statewide Comprehensive Plan

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Experiences Of Self Advocates Captured In Time

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Governor Spitzer signs “Person First” Legislation

On Wednesday, August 1st, Governor Spitzer signed the “Person First” bill requiring the use of “person first” language when describing individuals with disabilities in legal documents, publications, and state and local legislation.

The text of the bill reads:

“On or after the effective date of this section (immediately), all new and revised statutes, local laws, ordinances, charters or regulations promulgated or any publication published by the state or any political subdivision that refer to persons with disabilities shall seek to:

avoid language that
- implies that a person as a whole is disabled (e.g., the mentally ill or the learning disabled),
- equates persons with their condition (e.g., epileptics, autistics or quadriplegics),
- has negative overtones (e.g., afflicted with cerebral palsy, suffering from multiple sclerosis, confined to a wheelchair or wheel-chair bound) or
- is regarded as derogatory or demeaning (e.g., handicapped or mentally deficient); and
replace non-respectful language by referring to persons with disabilities as persons first (e.g., individuals with disabilities, individuals with developmental disabilities, individuals with mental illness, individuals with autism or individuals with mental retardation).”

Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach) re-introduced the bill in February. It had previously been approved by the New York State Assembly and Senate, but was vetoed by former Governor Pataki.

To see a list of examples of Person First language, Visit www.workforcenewyork.com.

September 2007

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August 2010

Phone: 1-800-395-3372
FAX: 518-402-3505

Upcoming DDPC Meetings

August 2010:

8/9/10 - Chilodrens Issues Committee Meeting
8/11/10 - SCCE Committee Meeting
8/12/10 - Adult Committee Meeting

*Notice*

Open Government and the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC). All DDPC meetings are held in Albany, NY unless otherwise noted.

Under law, the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) meetings and DDPC Standing Committee meetings are open meetings. If the public wants to attend, they can attend as observers. Participants may be asked to leave during breaks in the deliberations and when the meeting goes into executive session.

If more information, please contact the DDPC directly.

People First Language

The DDPC strictly adheres to and encourages the use of people first language. However you may note that in some articles/stories appearing in the E-Bulletin the language used is not always entirely people first. Articles submitted to the DDPC are taken verbatim from the source and are therefore not edited by the DDPC for correct people first language due to copyright restrictions.

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"The New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (herein NYS DDPC) neither warrants the fitness of, nor endorses the use of, any product, service or organization indicated within this or any peripheral or linked document, publication, audio or video file. The NYS DDPC does not endorse statements by non-NYS DDPC Staff contained herein."