Change the terminology. Change the perception.
Apply positive language to diversity.
Every day Madison Avenue provides us with positive perceptions of products that, in turn, we buy due to those very positive perceptions. Positive Sells. Positive Wins. Every Time.
This poster presentation offers a multilingual and multicultural examination of how through positive terminology, including people-first language, we can transform our perceptions of differability and by extension, all other types of diversity, into positive, attractive, winning perceptions, advocacy, and achievements of respected universal interest.
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Ellen Perlow, presenter, holds AlphaSmart assistive technology and shows
other assistive technology for everyone at her "A for Accessibility: Positive
Wins Every Time" poster that celebrates the positive, universal diversity of
doing things differently
Description of "A for Accessibility: Positive Wins Every Time" Poster and Photograph of Poster
Background: Light Blue Fabric with yellow stars. Yellow border. Dimensions: 8 feet by 4 feet. Table in front of poster had yellow skirt. Ellen Perlow, presenter, is standing at table displaying an AlphaSmart notetaker and other assistive devices such as The Reading Pen, The Clapper, and The Tap Light. A variety handouts, also available on Ellen's website at http://www.a4access.org/ were set out on the table for distribution, as were Post-It brand notes and colored markers for visitors to post their positive language contributions.
Banner:[Top Row in Large Arial Font] A for Accessibility
[Row Below in Large Arial Font] Positive Wins Every Time
Top Left Side of Poster, to left of banner: Abstract of Poster
Left Side, below abstract: Presenters' names and affiliations
Left Side Label: Negative
Below "Negative" Label: Negative words: "Disabled" "Desabilitado" "Andicappata" "Problema mentale", "Japanese term" and many others. Please see list of negative words about the positive diversity of differability
To right of "Negative" label, arrow pointing to "Positive" label
Underneath "Positive" Label, a display of positive terms describing the positive and universal diversity of doing things differently or differability: "adaptive capacity, ability, doing things differently, differability, People First Language, different ... positive term in Japanese ...
On the right side of the poster board, heading: Please Add Your Contributions to Our Positive Language
Visitors to the poster wrote down with the assistive technology devices known as Sharpie-brand color markers and colorful 3-M Post-It Brand notes their contributions for positive terminology to describe the universal diversity of doing things differently and the people who represent this diversity (everyone!): "excellent, creative, zany, talented, superb, gifted, able, strength, amazing, talented, we, inspiration, unlimited, honesty, and on the AlphaSmart notetaker demomstrated at the poster session: portable, affordable, and durable" ...
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What are YOUR Positive Language Contributions? Please e-mail Ellen at eperlow@twu.edu and your suggestions will be posted (anonymously) on this webpage. Contributions in every language - not only American English - are encouraged. The diversity of doing things differently is universal. The diversity of doing things differently is about all of us, everywhere in the world. We need and want YOUR contributions!
If you will be attending the IFLA 2001 Conference in Boston, August 20-24, 2001, you will be able to add your contributions in person to this poster which at IFLA will be named: Celebrating a New Century that Celebrates Diversity: Positive Language as the Key to Making a Positive Difference in the Knowledge Age, Poster number 48. (See: http://www.ifla.org/VI/1/conf/poster.htm) IFLA Presentation page: http://www.a4access.org/ifla2001.html. See you in Boston!
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This page last updated Monday, August 19, 2001, 8 pm, and Thursday, November 7, 2002, 2 pm CST
