Putting People First
The people and families of the St. Louis Arc believe that the language we use to talk about disability has an impact on how we view and interact with people who are affected by disability. Because of that belief, the St. Louis Arc emphasizes the use of “People-First Language” in all references to the people and families we serve.
People-First Language helps us to remember that the people we support are people who have individual interests, needs and desires—and who are never to be reduced to the sum of their diagnoses or conditions. It is a philosophy that underlies all of our services.
To learn more about People-First Language, you may want to visit the following sites: Missouri Parent Act 
or watch this Arc of Northern Virginia/Arc of Virginia web video about how the language we use impacts people and families. WATCH VIDEO