Inclusive language: Discribing the disabled, which one is correct?

Question

a. The hearing-impared child needs special accommodations for the field trip.

b. The child needs special accomodations for the field trip.

Answer 1

One change since the IDEA Act was introduced was how to phrase when talking about a student with special needs. Always think in your head the student is an individual first and formost, and then they have to special need as well. So in the past it was an Austitic Child, now after the Act passed it is now A child with Autism. A is INCORRECT because you should never say "the hearing imparied child!" It would be B.

Answer 2

Your (a) suggestion does not use "people first" language, and your (b) suggestion doesn't give any information about the nature of the accommodations that might be needed.  

I would suggest rephrasing it as

"The child with a hearing impairment needs special accommodations for the field trip."

Answer 3

I would go with "The child needs special accomodations for the field trip."

All through school I was reminded that I was "Learning Disabled". Did I enjoy hearing that? Not really. We all are different. I feel that letter b is more comforting if the child,

childs parents, childs friends and classmates are to hear.

And just a nicer way to discribe a person for that matter.

Answer 4

The answer is: A. You figure out why!

Answer 5

The hearing-impaired child needs special accommodations for the field trip.