The considered use of language is often mocked as political correctness gone mad. When you look at it up close it is more like a kind of powerful magic at your fingertips, with the power to do good or ill.
In today’s podcast, Joanna Grace joins Dale to discuss ‘Identity First Language and Belonging’. The autistic community reject person first language (person with autism) in favour of identity first language (autistic person). As a doctoral researcher studying identity and belonging Joanna is fascinated by the power of identity for people.
Understanding the link between identity and belonging can inspire us to embrace reflective use of language and to advocate for change. Very often teachers and other professionals are the people who gift terminology to others, gatekeepers to what can seem like a world of jargon. Listen to understand that the choices we make with our language can shape the lives of those we teach in extraordinary ways.
Useful Links
A message from Joanna
Aside from the obvious, my son’s book My Mummy is Autistic, I have a FREE training series on YouTube aimed at mainstream SENCOs (but it has been accessed far more widely than that) that explores issues that crop up in schools around autistic students.
My facebook is a resource for insight into neurodivergence, with the photo albums acting as resource banks: people are welcome to connect with me. My LinkedIn profile also has many free to access articles that I have written on the topic of neurodiversity.
Joanna also runs a course called Exploring the Impact of the Senses on Behaviour both online and as an in person event. The sensory projects has more details.
About Joanna Grace
Joanna Grace is a sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, doctoral researcher, author, trainer, TEDx speaker and Founder of The Sensory Projects.
Joanna has worked with people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent conditions aged from 0-100 (well 1 day old – 87 years old to be precise) in a range of settings and context.
Through all she does Joanna is seeking to contribute to a future where people are understood in spite of their differences.
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