PEOPLE-FIRST LANGUAGE

PEOPLE-FIRST LANGUAGE emphasizes the person, not

the disability. By placing the person first, the

disability is no longer the primary, defining

characteristic of an individual, but one of several aspects of the

whole person.

A person with a disabilityX A disabled person

She has Down Syndrome

X She’s Downs

Avoiding generic labelsHe has an intellectual

disabilityX He’s mentally retardedEmphasizing abilities, not

limitationShe uses a wheelchairX She’s confined to a wheelchair

Avoiding euphemisms“euphemism” - a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

Many people find annoying or offensive: restricted to a wheelchair, victim of, suffers from, retarded, deformed, crippled, and euphemisms such as physically challenged.

Remember:If you are unsure, ask the person with a disability what terminology he prefers.

Avoiding implying illness or suffering

Bob has a mental health condition

X Bob’s mentally illHas multiple sclerosisX Suffers from multiple sclerosis

Beginning with the right attitude, one of compassion will make you a more effective teacher, one with the :

and thewho can facilitate their

learning and adjustment.

BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVEThe theory of behaviorism

focuses on the study of observable and measurable behavior. It emphasizes that behavior is mostly learned through conditioning and reinforcement.

BEHAVIORIST THEORY

Ivan Pavlo

v

John B.

Watson

Edward L.

Thorndike

Burrhus F.

Skinner

Behaviorism

Connectionism (Thorndike)

Classical Conditioning

(Pavlov/Watson)

Operant Conditioning (Skinner)

Primary Laws

Law of Effect

Law of Exercise

Law of Readiness

Reinforcement

Shaping of Behavior

BEHAVIORISM is a worldview that assumes a

learner is essentially passive, responding to environmental stimuli. The learner starts off as a clean slate (i.e. tabula rasa) and behavior is shaped through positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement.

Ivan Pavlov

Born: September 26, 1849, Ryazan, Russia

Died: February 27, 1936, Saint Petersburg, Russia

A Russian physiologist is well known for his work in classical conditioning or stimulus substitution.

Pavlov’s most renowned experiment involved meat, a dog and a bell.