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Sakenna Washington

#1 As humans, I believe we label everything and need to place things in a box. As for first language it gives the students with the disabilities to have a voice and they are acknowledge before their disability. The perceptions of the students from being just about their disability to building the relationship with the student to just learn about them.

#2  Educators have the advantage of changing the environment for a student with the disability.  An educator can provide safety, and encourage a positive outlook inside the classroom.  Educators can not only foster a healthy environment, but they can established a rapport with student. The peers will notice and it with foster the relationship among the students with disabilities and without disabilities.

#3 I am honestly livid. The photographer I believe knew what he or she was doing. This sends a message to the students that it is right to separate people who are different (i.e. discrimination). The educator in this photo should be ashamed, she did not protest to the photo, and should at least stand next to the student for the student to be included. That student was “straining” their neck to be a part of the class. That alone should have made the photographer stop because of the lack of cohesiveness in the photo.

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Q1- I believe that first person language changes the perception of how information is received or given simply because it literally puts the person first. The one thing that every person on this earth has in common is the fact that we are all human beings with valid thoughts and emotions. It is when we fail to put people first and realize that they are more than whatever label it is that we are trying to place upon them, that we strip them of their humanity. When this happens, it is always divisive, which is why person first dialogue makes such a difference when speaking about or to people with disabilities. Person first dialogue discourages exclusive “us vs. them” logic.

Q2-Educators can impact the way that students are perceived by their peers in either a positive or negative way. From my personal experience as a recipient of special education services, I have had special education teachers in the general education classroom that never treated me any different from the other children, and when I did need extra assistance or something of that nature it was given to me in a way that didn’t make other children gawk at me and tease me. I have also had teachers that made it a point to single me out. These teachers insisted on reprimanding me in a way that was exclusive from the classroom. This had a very negative effect and only caused me to act out.  Therefore, I believe that educators can have both positive and negative effects on how students are viewed by their peers. If general education students feel as if the student is receiving special privileges or extra attention they may react negatively which can also lead to the special education student feeling self-conscious about themselves.

Q3- I believe that this is a case of discrimination. I don’t think the photographer is the only one who should share the blame though. The teacher was aware of this happening and still allowed it to take place. If this were a criminal case, she would be considered an accessory. I don’t think this situation should be looked at differently. As for the photographer, I simply can’t believe that he could look through the lens and see nothing wrong with the picture.

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Q1. When I compare the two phrases, my mind goes back to English class. 'Disabled' is the adjective, and ultimately gives that single description to a student when we fail to use person first language. However, when we do use person first language, it helps prevent us from limiting the student to just his or her disability. I think that  by saying, "a student with disabilities", we help to further push the idea that he or she is a student, and ultimately a person first.                                                                                         Q2. Educators play a huge role in the way their students view other students with  disabilities, primarily because more often than not, the educator is a role model for the students, and they set the tone for the classroom and how students and their peers interact with one another. If the educator fails to use person first language, it can cause students to follow suit and ultimately alter their own perceptions of that child and about people with disabilities in general. Educators also impact the way that students are perceived by their peers by the way they treat them. It is important for us to make our students feel welcomed in any environment they are in, and not to single out their disability.                                                                                        Q3. The first thing that caught my eye about the picture was the fact that although Miles was smiling so big and bright, he was noticeably separated from his classmates, and I believe that he knew it. I wonder why his teacher did not see anything wrong with the picture, if she even did. I also wonder why she allowed the photographer to conduct the shoot as such. I think that both of Miles’ parents are correct: I don’t think that the photographer meant any harm, but he should have been more conscious about the matter.  This situation definitely shows the unawareness that surrounds students and people in general with disabilities. However, one could also look at it from a different perspective. Perhaps taking him outside of his wheelchair would have further emphasized that he was physically different from his peers, and it could have made him feel bad about being in a wheelchair. Ultimately it does bother me, because Miles’ straining does lead me to believe that he knew that he was being left out in some way. 

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Q1. When I compare the two phrases, my mind goes back to English class. 'Disabled' is the adjective, and ultimately gives that single description to a student when we fail to use person first language. However, when we do use person first language, it helps prevent us from limiting the student to just his or her disability. I think that  by saying, "a student with disabilities", we help to further push the idea that he or she is a student, and ultimately a person first.                                                                                         Q2. Educators play a huge role in the way their students view other students with  disabilities, primarily because more often than not, the educator is a role model for the students, and they set the tone for the classroom and how students and their peers interact with one another. If the educator fails to use person first language, it can cause students to follow suit and ultimately alter their own perceptions of that child and about people with disabilities in general. Educators also impact the way that students are perceived by their peers by the way they treat them. It is important for us to make our students feel welcomed in any environment they are in, and not to single out their disability.                                                                                        Q3. The first thing that caught my eye about the picture was the fact that although Miles was smiling so big and bright, he was noticeably separated from his classmates, and I believe that he knew it. I wonder why his teacher did not see anything wrong with the picture, if she even did. I also wonder why she allowed the photographer to conduct the shoot as such. I think that both of Miles’ parents are correct: I don’t think that the photographer meant any harm, but he should have been more conscious about the matter.  This situation definitely shows the unawareness that surrounds students and people in general with disabilities. However, one could also look at it from a different perspective. Perhaps taking him outside of his wheelchair would have further emphasized that he was physically different from his peers, and it could have made him feel bad about being in a wheelchair. Ultimately it does bother me, because Miles’ straining does lead me to believe that he knew that he was being left out in some way. 

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-Kiersten Jones

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Q1: How we label people shows that we are taking the initiative to understand.  Most, I do mean most, label students as disabled students.  I am very guilty of that.  I am so quick to say, "he is disable."  Never realizing that the words that I am saying can make them feel limited.  So, for me this does change how I will label someone with disabilities.  That means i shouldn't label them.  This class has so far made me realize what to say and when it  is an appropriate time to say something.

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Q1: How we label people shows that we are taking the initiative to understand.  Most, I do mean most, label students as disabled students.  I am very guilty of that.  I am so quick to say, "he is disable."  Never realizing that the words that I am saying can make them feel limited.  So, for me this does change how I will label someone with disabilities.  That means i shouldn't label them.  This class has so far made me realize what to say and when it  is an appropriate time to say something.

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Q2:  One way we impact our students is to treat them equally.  Yes we have to adjust curriculum for some of the children, but we should never put them in this group.  We should show everyone we are equally and we are treated the same.   Also, we should not judge our peers, because we are different.

Q3. I think a lot people are unaware of actions they are creating. I hope deep down in my heart that they didn't do that on purpose. I will say if that was my child I would definitely make them take it again and if they didn't it will show how bad the school looks. We should never set a child apart from the group, because they look different. I will say I am glad they did take the picture over, although, the child didn't mind the first picture, but I think he will appreciate this new picture in the future. I am happy they did fix it.

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Using person first language is designed to remember that individual is still just that, an individual. An example to use can be race.  A person is still a person no matter what ethnicity, religion preference, color hair or anything at all. Same goes for students with disabilities. A disability does not hinder that student from being a student, it may just simply change how things may need to be done for them. Various people in the world can be clueless to so many things until they are properly educated. As teachers, I believe it is up to us to do this. We must be an advocate for our students, no matter what. Person first language simply that the student is still a student along with the remaining general education. In addition, putting the students first will help them build their confidence and self-esteem to know that they are not solely looked at based on any disability.

I think educators can help students with disabilities being perceived by their peers by enforcing the information in question one. To start off I don’t think it should be looked at or kept as a “secret”. The educator may want to simply explain to the children that we in the world are all made different but are equally amazing. Some have different skin color and others have different learning abilities. Explaining that a student with disabilities will gain the same information that they will but just in their own way may assist in the peers questioning. The educator may also want to explain to the children that the class should be patient with the student but nonetheless remember that he/she is a student just like them and deserves to be treated the exact same way they are.

I want to think to think that the photographer didn’t mean any harm by this but unfortunately looking at the facts of the story, it’s hard to see the good. The photographer’s actual job is to take a great picture of the class, and to do this, he needs to look at the picture and tweak it as needed by moving the students around. There was no way that I could imagine that this photographer did not notice or think it was a good idea to have this child separated from his class. He is a part of that class as much as any other student is and deserves to be treated as such.

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1. When we use person first language when are emphasizing the humanity of people with disabilities. As a society, we tend to dehumanize people when they differ from us. Putting the fact that someone with a disability is a person first and not just an object/their diagnosis helps prevent that separation. A person’s disability is only one small part of who they are, and person first language keeps us from using it as their only qualifier.

2. A teacher can help students develop a better perspective of other students with disabilities by having an inclusive classroom with open communication. Often in classrooms students with disabilities can be isolated from their peers because other students do not understand some of the student with a disability’s behaviors or why they look “different.” I think communication from the teacher about how being different is not a bad thing can help young students be more accepting of others. In addition, it is important for the teacher to lead by example and not treat students differently because of their disabilities.

3. I think the teacher should have spoken up while the students were being posed for the picture. As an educator, it is our job to be an advocate for our students, and she should have asked for the students to be set up different to be more inclusive of Miles. I would hope Lifetouch would train their employees in how to make sure their photos are inclusive, but at the end of the day the teacher is the one responsible for making sure her student is not isolated at school.
-Haley Deshotels

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Q1- Before being in this class I was unaware of person first language. Now that I know what it is I feel like it is very important. Stating a persons disability before stating that they are an actual person is very demeaning. Using person first language helps people identify with the individual before there disability. Not using person first language is like opening the door for discrimination or for someone to automatically judge a person because he or she is disabled. Not using person first language just simply makes the statement sound worse.

Q2-educators have a big impact on how individuals with disabilities are perceived. The way educators talk to individuals with disabilities in front of their peers has a big effect on how their peers act towards them. If the educator speaks to them like they are babies or speak to them mockingly then their peers may think that speaking that way is appropriate. If the educator treats the students with disabilities like a regular student like they are then the students should treat them the same way with respect. The educators should also correct their fellow teachers as well as the students to use person first language and also correct any behaviors that are unacceptable.

Q3-honestly I feel like it was not purposely done to exclude him but I do think that it was not completely thought about. The photographer nor the teacher tried to make different adjustments to make sure that he was not excluded from or pushed out of the photo. The benches are out a little bit but they could have filled the benches to the ends so that the other kids were at least closer to him. The worst part is he is trying to push his body over to try and be apart of this picture that alone should have at least prompted the photographer or the teacher to say let's readjust this and try again.

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Q1: While on the surface, such an alteration of language can be viewed as semantics, the grammar of the matter creates a profound difference. "Disabled students" places undue emphasis on the adjective, making it sound like the disability totally defines the person. "Students with disabilities", for it's part, is a more clinical term in the similar vein as "patient with the flu".
Q2: Leaving aside the use of the above language, the most extreme way is by treating the student with disabilities as manifestly different from the rest of the student body. That being said, trying to hold them purely to the exact same standard with no regard to any real difficulties a student's disability can cause can also result in a struggle, resulting in poor grades and consequent harm to self-confidence. Modification may be necessary, but it must be done in a way that is all-inclusive and non-obvious. It is a tricky balancing act.
Q2: A failure of both the photographer in his professional duty to take a photo featuring the whole of the class as a single body and the teacher in their professional duty to ensure the student not be excluded. The photographer should have found someway to incorporate Miles with the other students as the article says happened with the reshoot. The teacher, for her part, should have reproved the photographer for putting Miles in such an exclusionary spot and insisted the photographer do his job properly.

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Q1: People too often, myself included in the past especially, are ignorant to the fact of correct wording when it concerns a person with some type of disability. A person should come before their disability because they should not be labeled because of something beyond their control. Its kind of like saying the black girl Tennessee instead of just saying Tennessee, my color doesn't define who I am it is just apart of me. Hey I might be reaching with the comparison, but having people in my family who do have different disabilities which has made me really sensitive about that topic and I have learned that putting a label on someone is never right.

Q2: An educator has a significant impact on students in general and they are trained and are very well educated on students with disabilities. Because of all of these factors I feel as if they set the tone for the school and the students with disabilities peers. Students will lead by example and if the educator is making it very clear on how to treat others I can see their peers treating them with respect and no differently then they would treat any of the other students.

Q3: I personally have read this story before and I feel the same way now that I did then. The students was not intentionally just pushed to the side. His wheelchair was just too big to fit in a good space. I do feel as if maybe they should have tried to scoot the student who was next to him on the very bottom bench a little closer to the end and pushed the students further down. It would have made him appear as if he wasn't so far away from the class. But I do not think this was intentional or malice it was just a bad set up.

-Tennessee Tharpe

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Q1) The words we use tend to reflect what we find most important about people we describe.  When we don’t use PFL we are putting a qualifier in front of the fact that they are a person, and are saying the fact that he or she has a disability is more important than that he or she is a person. Q2) Students tend to take their cues from the teachers or adults in their lives.  If we as educators are treating all of our students with respect, and acknowledging that all students are valued and important, then they are likely to start thinking that way as well. Q3) I think that this is very unfortunate but I don’t think it was intentional at all by the photographer.  Even if he noticed that the student was off to the side, trying to move him up onto the stairs would probably have felt wrong as well, since the photographer does not know the students personally.  Yes, he could have moved the whole class to stand around the student but as a photographer myself I know that when you are taking a ton of class photos you have everything set up for a single location, flash, reflectors, etc.  I think most of the blame lies with the teacher for not noticing that the student was being left out.  She is the one that works with this class on a daily basis and knows him the best.

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Q1 - When one uses person first language, they are opting for a progressive depiction of people with disabilities.  Kathie Snow's article perfectly states, “People First Language puts the person before the disability, and describes what a person has, not who a person is.”

Q2 - How might educators impact the way that students with disabilities are perceived by their peers? Educators could be the first line of defense for their students with disabilities.  Educators that hold minimum state licensing, or bear full state special education certification, should possess skills that would allow them to assure their students with disabilities have a positive interaction with their peers.  At a bare minimum, educators should create an environment of inclusion and be mindful of labeling.

Q3 - I am baffled that the teacher is standing solidly with her class while little Miles Ambridge is so solemnly isolated.  I do not fault the photographer for lack of awareness but cannot comprehend why the teacher did not immediately think of a way to situate the 7-year-old.  Admittedly, the bleachers present awkward positioning for the wheelchair, but that’s when innovation could have come into play!  Something as simple as placing Miles (in his chair) on the front row and allowing his peers to stand (rather than sit) could have easily solved this problem.

~~Sivi Y. Thomas

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Q1.  I think this changes the perception by not labeling the student.  If we say ‘disabled student’ then I think that is defining them.  A students disability is not who they are, and we do not want them to feel inferior to anyone of their classmates

Q2. I think the way the educator treats the student in front of their peers is really going to change how the view the student with a disability.  I also do not think the educator should single the student out, and let it be known that this is the student with disabilities.  The educator should treat the child like the rest of the students.

Q3. I do not think the photographer did that to hurt anyone intentionally, it was really just a careless action, if anything I would think the adults would think more of it than the children.  To the children it would make sense for him to be on the end cause his wheelchair cant fit on the bleacher.  I am  just glad the little boy did not take it personal.

- Jemara Trice

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Q1: Tone and consideration are often disregarded when we address people and challenging situations; particularly students with disablities. When calling a student disabled, we take the inclusion out of the equation, and insert exlcusion in it's place. We divide and devalue rather than distinguish the unique qualities about the student. By adressing a student as a student with disabilities, we first credit their place and title as a student first. This establishes equality, and encourages the peer group to display respectable manners and appropriate behavior when interacting with the student. Also, the perception shifts from seeing the student as apart from everyone else, to included with everyone.
Q2: Teachers are the directors of the classroom, and therefore have the greatest power in determining how their students act and interact with one another. If the teacher is poorly trained on how best to guide students with disabilities, it can prove to be detrimental to the overall learning environment. Students will naturally reflect the tone that the teacher establishes. Therefore, if an instructor suggests either with tone or address that a student with disabilities is different, apart from, or "separate but equal, " then students will inevitably treat the student differently. So, a teacher's impact on classroom structure is crucial.
Q3: I'm saddened by this photograph. The insensitivity, and inattention to the image's message is simply intolerable. I take the side of Miles' mother, who suggests that the photo was discriminatory. As she stated, "adults should know better." This is a poor demonstration of how tone deaf many of us still are to students and people with disabilities. Rather than doing their best to insure that Miles was apparently included, it's as if they just settled for "leaving it alone," almost completely ignoring his disability in a sense, and setting him aside to avoid dealing with it. It's sad, and unfortunate. There just needs to be a more deliberate step taken to avoid these moments of poor judgement in the future.
- Hannah Lomax.

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Q1- Honestly I don't know why person first language isn't something used frequently or subconsciously anyways. To exclude a person differences isn't right in any shape or form. As an educator I would hope to influence change in society by teaching my students to be the newest innovators or philanthropist or whatever they want to be. And by limiting and labeling certain students to something that is merely apart of them but not them would be unethical and morally wrong. That's why I think that person first language should be used more often and widely accepted, and just a social norm.

Q2- In a classroom setting the teacher is the essentially the law of the land. They set the rules, whether they are rules that are made up by the class together or simply teacher set. The teachers also enforce the rules they make. And they also are the judge and jury in their classroom. So of course how a teacher can influence how students with disabilities in their classroom are perceived. If a teacher has an open and inclusive classroom and sticks to it then the students will follow the teachers lead.

Q3- I personally don't think that they excluded the student on purpose. I do think there was a lack of better judgement and also some ignorance on the teacher and the photographer. I think that the teacher didn't work on having an inclusive classroom setting and that it was the norm to have the student off by himself in some shape or form throughout the school year, simply because they didn't know better.

- Anna Squires-Marshall

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Q1. First person language allows a way to put the person before the disability. Having a disability is not a problem even though our society seems to think so. When choosing to call out someone's disability it makes it seem like something is wrong with and we only focus on the negative implications. First person language allows us to change our way of thinking.

Q2. Educators must teach that it is okay to be different. Every student rather they have a disability or not, struggles with their own strength and weaknesses. If the educator teaches that everyone should be treated with the same respect, peers will follow.

Q3. The photo was very upsetting to look at. I felt for the child and parents. People have to learn that our actions have an impact on the way othesr feel. The teacher and photographer could have easily came up with a different alternative.However, excluding the child was not the answer.

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Q1: Referring to someone as a disabled student is inappropriate because that person is being defined by there disability; it is as if that is the identity. Children with differing abilities should not feel as if they are single out . By using the term student with a disability it allows that person to feel as if they are just a person that may have different attributes then their peers.

Q2: Educators set the tone in the classroom for student with disabilities. They need to show the other students that some people may just need extra help to learn the material and there should be nothing to be ashamed of. They should stress the idea of an inclusive classroom where all students are treated in the same respect and no one is singled out. Differentiated learning opportunities is very important in the classroom setting.

Q3.  The photo depicts just how unaware people can are with being conscious of their actions and how it can affect others. The intent may not have been malicious but it shows how people need to be educated on those who have a disability. The teacher should have arranged for single chairs instead of the bench to that all the students can look as a unit.

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Q1- The order in which you identify a person with a disability can change the perception of the student. People shouldn’t be defined by their disability. First Person Language puts the student before the disability. For an example, you should address the student with chronic illness instead of saying the disabled child. Children with a disability is commonly labeled by their disability and soon to identify themselves as the disability.  By putting the student before the disability allow the child to have a sense of themselves.

Q2- Educators can impact the way students with disabilities are perceived by their peers by allowing them to do activities and do assignments as a group. Also the educator can address different disabilities to the class and make it aware that they are the same and equal to learn.

Q3- This picture was very disturbing to look at. As a photographer how could you take a picture of a class with one student put to the side??  It was sad to see the child put to the side to pose with the class. I believe the child knew why he was put to the side. As the teacher, she should have noticed the child far away and said something to the photographer.

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It's important to use person first language because it's helps others see people with disabilities as real human beings. When we say disabled people/students, it puts them in a category. It makes us see only the disability, not the person. Educators impact the way that students with disabilities are perceived by their peers because they set the example. People look up to educators, so if students see educators treat students with disabilities with respect, them they will too. It's important that educators teach students that people with disabilities have feelings too, and they are more than just their disability. In the article, the photographer made the student with a disability feel excluded, and that's not the way they should be treated. That student should have been included in the photo just like the other students.

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Q1. Saying students with disabilities verses disabled students, one shows that being disabled is their master status meaning, it is the sole identifier for that child, the other meaning this is a child who also has a disability but isn't necessarily identified by just that.

Q2. Teachers can help by ensuring the classroom is that safe space, everyone in the class is just alike, everyone has something special or unique about themselves but no one person should be singled out. Also educating the class on differences, and being accepting of others just because they are a little different. Those Children who have disabilities are capable of completing task just like regular students, and all should be treated equally.

Q3. No child wheelchair bound or not should feel or be looked at as an outcast, he should've been included closest as possible to begin with. No one wants to look at a picture to find out that their child is off to the side while the class sits separately. Everyone should've been included. The teacher should've ,are sure he was closely included.

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Q1. Students with disabilities instead of disabled students brings individuality and uniqueness to the student. It allows for the child to understand that their disability is not all they bring to the table. It is just an addition. 

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Q1. Students with disabilities instead of disabled students brings individuality and uniqueness to the student. It allows for the child to understand that their disability is not all they bring to the table. It is just an addition. 

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Q2. By setting the atmosphere of respect and acknowledging the differences that make every student who they are is an excellent way for teachers to show their students how to behave with students who have disabilities. It is important for teachers to have discussions with students so that there is an open and honest climate in the classroom. Calling out students in a professional manner who may not be sensitive to students with disabilities is also important in my opinion in order to communicate that that is not okay and will not be tolerated.
Q3. This should never have happened. In my opinion the teacher or photographer should have realized that the student was too far away from the rest of the class. There could have been some creativity involved in the taking of this picture like removing the stand and having the children stand. Education at this point is about creativity and it should be included in all aspects of th students day.

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Q1. A student should be treated with the utmost respect in general when in an educational setting. An important take away I learned this week was about Person First Language. Using this tool is a great technique to properly address a student with the appropriate language that defies their disability in its proper terms . It should also not cause damaged emotions for the student.
Q2. Teachers play an important roll in how peers of a disabled child is perceived. This is due to the fact that if the teacher incorrectly addresses the child's disability to the class, students will think of it as a joke and proceed to tease or bully the disabled student. However, if the teacher provides a through understanding to the class about the disabled child's disability the child will less likely be bullied by the class and receive help.
Q3. By creating such a scenario done by the school, its disheartening to see. Schools should not be creating barriers such as these in their academic environment. This form of segregation should not be allowed, but rather more integration should be accepted.

-Shehryar Valliani

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Q1- Saying disabled students is labeling a person, we take away his or her humanity. To say that someone is "disabled" objectifies him or her. The most important thing to remember is always to speak of the person first. Therefore it would be, "the student with deaf-blindness," rather than "the deaf-blind student." Being politically correct is a call to see the person, first and foremost. It is important to be conscious about what we say, and when we say it, because it may help to more positively reshape how we communicate about disability in society.

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Q1- Saying disabled students is labeling a person, we take away his or her humanity. To say that someone is "disabled" objectifies him or her. The most important thing to remember is always to speak of the person first. Therefore it would be, "the student with deaf-blindness," rather than "the deaf-blind student." Being politically correct is a call to see the person, first and foremost. It is important to be conscious about what we say, and when we say it, because it may help to more positively reshape how we communicate about disability in society.

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Q2- Educators need to be mindful of treating students with disabilities with the same respect and care they treat other students. It is their job to create a safe environment where students with disabilities are able to learn and feel included. I think a good way would be to include students with disabilities and other students in group activities and engage them to participate in the classroom. Also, teaching awareness to students about disabilities and equality.

Q3b - This photo shows the lack of awareness people have about people with disabilities. The photographer saw the wheelchair as an obstacle to the picture and preferred to put him on the side separated from the classmates. The photographer failed to see the perception it will cause about students with disabilities, which is that they are an obstacle, a burden and should be placed on the side. Fortunately, the parents acted on it and were able to retake the picture. However it is very important that we are inclusive when it comes to the way we treat people with disabilities

-Olivia Abie

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Q1. My son's friend has a hearing impairment. My son's friend is a rambunctious 5 year old little boy who has a hearing impairment, he is not the hearing impairment nor should he be called the deaf little boy. His mother and I are friends and I have noticed that she is very sensitive or self-conscious about the disability that her son has. I'm, certain that I have heard her refer to her son in person first language,as well as describing his disability first.  The next time we are together I will take note.

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Q1. My son's friend has a hearing impairment. My son's friend is a rambunctious 5 year old little boy who has a hearing impairment, he is not the hearing impairment nor should he be called the deaf little boy. His mother and I are friends and I have noticed that she is very sensitive or self-conscious about the disability that her son has. I'm, certain that I have heard her refer to her son in person first language,as well as describing his disability first.  The next time we are together I will take note.

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The reading brings out the point clearly, a person has cancer, they are not cancer. Therefore it's best to say, "Sally has autism" instead of Sally's autistic.

Q2. Children learn from an early age to copy and imitate their teachers. It's so important for educators to put the person first and not the disability. Students will follow suit and copy their teachers. Educators need to treat all students with the utmost respect and consideration. That means all students who enter the classroom. We would want to be quick to shut down any negative speech about any student to create a healthy learning environment for all.
Q 3. I felt so sad for the young boy and his parents. You could really sense that the mother took the photographer's actions so personally. She really felt he was discriminated against. I feel that the photographer and the teacher were not considerate and should have taken note that the young boy with the disability was not being included in the shot. I don't think it was blatant discrimination on the photographers part. Perhaps he or she had been shooting class photos all day long, and was just ready to snap a shot and not take the time out to consider how to include Miles who was using the wheelchair. As someone else mentioned, perhaps they did not know he could be placed on the bench next to his classmates, that would have been so much better.
Thia Green

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Q1. Through the development of language and word choice, cultural and individual assumptions and prejudices can be represented. The simple act of changing the way a phrase or a situation is pronounced can be the first step to altering that underlying cultural mindset. By using person first language, it causes the speaker to identify the individual before their disability instead of by their disability. It emphasizes that the individual’s disability is an aspect of their life rather than a definition of their life.

Q2. The educator is the leader in a classroom. They set the tone for how behavior will be conducted, and the expectations by which the students ought to treat one another. If the educator treats a student differently, they are essentially giving that student’s peers permission to act in the same manner. Educators must keep in mind that their words and actions are guiding their students’ words and actions. Inversely, modeling positive inclusive behavior can transform a classroom for the better.

Q3. While I do not believe that the situation that occurred in the article was purposefully malicious, I do believe that the adults involved could have been more tactful about positioning the picture. I tend to agree with the boy’s father, who believed that the photographer’s intention was not to be discriminatory. However, this situation is still a reminder that inclusion is important. Intentional or not, the photograph was thoughtlessly composed, and because of this Miles was undeniably set apart in the picture. The adults in this situation should have demonstrated more awareness, and worked to find an inclusive solution.

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Q1 - Person first language puts the student before the disability. By doing this, it changes perception by not allowing the disability to define the student. Instead of saying, the autistic kid, you would say the student with autism. This way, the disability is a part of the student and not what defines the student. I look at it as an adjective or characteristic that is unique to the student.

Q2 -  Similar to my answer in the first question, if you frame the disability as something that is unique to the student, it changes the perception. Each student has something that is unique to them, it doesn't make them any less than their peers. I think that communicating this would be essential to building an inclusive classroom environment. In this way, we are not separating students with disabilities from students without, we are including everyone in the fact that we all have something unique to us.

Q3 - Upon seeing this picture, I was genuinely shocked. I was amazed at the fact that no other adult in the room even thought of an alternative. There was a clear space in the picture next to the teacher for the student to be placed. It was a bit disheartening to see how the boy strained his neck in order to be included with the rest of the class. However, the good news out of all of this is that the photographer has been educated and will now know better for future shoots. In cases where individuals learn from their mistakes and ignorance, then there is always positivity to be found from that.

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Q1- Students with disabilities puts the student first, not their disability first. If you put the disability before the person it dehumanizes them and makes them appear to be less than what they are and it separates them from others. If you introduce someone by saying "that's the autistic girl named Alex" instead of "this is Alex she has autism" it makes you focus on their disability and what many people fail to comprehend is that people aren't their disability. They are people who happen to have different talents, perspectives, challenges, and obstacles but that's how everyone is. The other day one of my teachers told the class at some point in our life a lot of us experience something that makes us stand apart. The example they used was saying "some people go to the doctor because they have eczema. It is a difference that you can see but how would you like it if you were introduced as the girl with eczema instead of being introduced by your name?" People are people regardless of their physical and psychological differences.

Q2-I think educators play an important role on how they impact the way students with disabilities are perceived by their peers because they bring light to the table reminding us that even though someone has a disability it doesn't mean they are incapable of doing other things. Sometimes when we prejudge someone we don't actually give them the opportunity to prove themselves since we think we have a prenotion of the type of person they are and that's not fair to assume what someone is and isn't capable of doing. Some disabilities aren't visible (such as deafness) but sometimes when people become made aware that a person has a disability they usually treat them differently. This semester I have a Deaf teacher and he told us that almost everyone has a disability. The other day he told us "if you wear glasses that's a disability but are you treated differently because your eyes aren't perfect? No. Then why treat someone differently if their hearing isn't perfect?" Educators shed light and make us realize that nobody is perfect- nobody is better than anyone else and it's okay to be different.

Q3- I am very saddened by this. When you look closely at the photo you see there is still a bit of the bench left empty making Miles stand out more but I do understand the photographer put Miles as close to the bench as he could while having him remain comfortable in his wheelchair. However, I do believe the photographer could've taken a different approach by having Miles sit on the bench with the rest of his classmates or if Miles remained in the wheelchair he could've been placed in front of his teacher which would also have been closer to his classmates. The picture does make it seem as though Miles is isolated from everyone else and his straining head makes me feel as though he wishes to fit in/ be treated like everyone else even though his parents said he didn't think much of the photo when he saw it.

-Celena Bezaire

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Q1- People should be more sensitive as to how they talk about people with disabilities. People are NOT their disabilities and they should not be defined that way because it does not determine what they can and cannot do. However, when people are labeled a certain way and people put the disabilities before the person, it can dehumanize them. It will have a huge impact on their mental health and how they view themselves. It can prevent them from trying to accomplish something because everybody is saying they can't. Remember to put the person before their disabilities, because their disabilities do not define them.
Q2- Educators engage by stating that everyone has their struggles. Some people are good at something, while others aren't in certain areas. They should emphasize that everyone has their highs and lows, strengths and weaknesses and that could bring everyone together instead of separating children with disabilities. As stated above, person before disability.
Q3- The photo was really upsetting. I feel like they should have had him on the same side as the teacher so that he was not isolated and separated from his classmates. Like Vaidehi said, maybe that was not the intention of the photographer but no one spoke up and considered how he might feel in that situation.

-Denna Warrayat

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Q1 - I first learned about 1st person language from one of the Speech-Language Pathologists that I work with. Particularly when speaking about children with who may have intellectual disabilities and are in self-contained classrooms. She was describing a child to me and immediately corrected herself, saying "you put the person first." To me, that humanizes the student more because they're still people even if they're different than what is considered the norm. With that being said, I think it changes the perception because you see that they may have this disability, but they are NOT their disability and not necessarily limited by it either. I meet and work with a lot of children who are labeled as non-verbal but as time progresses, a few of them have started to say a few things or mouth words as if they're getting ready to talk. It's crazy because I, as a para and the SLP, get these goals for these children to teach them to point or communicate with their eyes, they are capable of more despite what they've already been labeled as.

Q2. I believe educators help students with the perception of children who have disabilities by explaining that we all have our strengths and we all have our weaknesses, but we all deserve to be treated nice no matter what they may be.

Q3b. Adults can be worse than children, it's amplified by the fact that they know better. However, I question if the photographer placed the child there because he/she was not aware that the child could sit in a regular seat. My next question is that it appears the child is not necessarily off to the side, but that part of the bench is sticking out, so maybe what looks like isolation may just be placement because of the bench. I'm inclined to believe that the photographer may have just assumed that the child could only sit in the wheelchair so my last thought is why did the teacher, who probably knows the child can sit in a regular chair, not say something?

-Kenya Blocker

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Q1- Students with disabilities automatically are labeled by what ever the disability may be. They are prejudged and stereotyped as to what they may be capable of or what they might not be capable of.
Q2- Educators remove this negative stigma by promoting humanity efforts, specifically reminding people of the general student population that they are still students. Students that excel and advance just as they do , some more than others. Emphasizing that the disability does not make the student but the student makes the disability. Then most importantly in my eyes is making sure the learning environment is comfortable for ALL students on ALL levels , improving in any way that the educator can .
Q3- After viewing the image I felt like the student in the wheel chair should have been placed on the same side as the teacher. I have seen things like this done before while in school and even now in schools today. I feel as though it has become a norm to out cast students that appear to not be "normal" or "average". Overall, I feel like the photographer should have arranged the photo better and should never outcast visual or mentally any child like the one in this photograph.

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Q1- Person first language was a super interesting and helpful concept to learn, and honestly, something that had never crossed my mind before. It does, of course, make much sense. No person should ever be defined by one outward characteristic. When this class began, the colloquial term, "disabled students," seemed appropriate; now though, with only two weeks in, I understand the importance of putting the person before the disability.
Q2- I believe educators would be able to have an enormous impact concerning students with disabilities and their peers. The role of a teacher, I feel, is a very powerful one, and one that is sometimes taken for granted. Being in a position where one has the ability to teach future generations, I think it is imperative that they be taught how to be respectful and open-minded about the differences in other people. By educating children now, a more understanding future is slowly constructed.
Q3- My thoughts on the photograph were definitely not positive ones. To start with, I cannot understand how the photographer thought that setting the student with the disability to the side would look better. Secondly, the photograph does not send a good mental image to the public; it would either disappoint or cause greater misunderstanding towards people with disabilities. Even though the article says that the picture was retaken, I believe that the people in charge should have made a greater effort the include the student initially.

Angelica Bruschi

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Q1 – The phrase disabled students in itself puts a person’s disability above all and dehumanizes them. Using the words students with disability, on the other hand, doesn’t dehumanize a person but rather it emphasizes a person, even though they have a disability. Perception matters as some terms can be offensive and hurtful to people who have a disability or know someone who has a disability. Conscious thought about what we say, can help bring positivity when communicating with a person that has a disability.
Q2 – Educators themselves can help set a mindful tone so others can follow their lead and be mindful and respectful of their peers who have a disability.
Q3 – After looking at the picture, I think that the photographer didn’t mean to discriminate against Miles. However, all the adults including the photographer around Miles failed him by not being mindful and try to include him and treat him equally as the other kids in the picture.

- Vaidehi Shah

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Q1 - Like Maria stated, when people decide to put the person first ahead of their disability, it humanizes them again. Not to say that they aren't human beings from birth but when the disability comes first all we saw is that disability. Instead of saying "Shawn, a student with Autism," we only see the one aspect of him; his Autism.
Q2 - Correlating with Q1, if educators put the person first then that'll pave the way for their peers to see them as one of their own. They won't be scared or confused about who they are because they will only see them as Rachel or Derek. This allow those students with disabilities to feel accepted by their peers and by others.
Q3 - Looking at the photograph it was clear to me that the photographer, because of his wheelchair, put the student off to the side. He probably didn't see a way to incorporate him with the risers the other students were standing on. If he would have taken the time to really evaluate the situation, he could have seen that he should've put the child in the front row and placed the other students around him.
- Jonathan Kochik

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Q1 - When a person is defined by their disability it's a lot easier for people who don't know them to automatically put them in a separate category from themselves and their friends. It contributes to thinking in a way that creates an "us" and "them" dynamic, especially for people who have never gotten to know somebody with a disability. When you emphasize the fact that somebody is a human, that includes the fact that this person is a friend, a family member, a classmate, a unique individual; and all of these things are more important than somebody's disability.
Q2 -  By emphasizing the above. What are the qualities that make that student unique? What do they bring to the classroom and to their peers? It might be a great sense of humor, an artistic style, a special skill in math, etc. Everybody has strengths and weaknesses and the teacher can highlight how diversity is an asset to everybody.
Q3 - I think the photographer saw the little boy as an obstacle to taking the photo, because he was only thinking of the wheelchair, not the little boy. I think he failed to see the little boy as a human being and to take his needs into account.
- Maria Guzman