Inclusive Language

1. The ELCA's churchwide disability ministries are   ministries "with" people and not ministries "for" or "to" people.
   
   Often one focuses on what one can do for a person with a disability; instead, we look to the talents and gifts that we who are persons with disabilities bring to the church.
   
   
   
2. Disability ministries call upon the body of Christ to be a hospitable church for those of us who are persons with disabilities and our family members.  In striving to be a hospitable church, our attention focuses on attitudinal barriers that are as much of a hindrance as architectural barriers.
   
   Architectural access is the means by which we who are persons with disabilities enter our church buildings and use the physical facilities.  Attitudinal barriers, intentional and unintentional beliefs, work to deny our full participation in our church's worship, Christian education, and activities.
   
   We desire full participation through our own uniqueness, talents, and individual needs, not by meeting abled-bodied standards.
   
   
   
3. As a part of attitudinal access, disability ministries use affirming language, looking to the person first.  For example, we use "persons with disabilities," instead of "disabled persons."
   
   Some of us may also prefer "persons with challenges."  Some of us may prefer to be identified as a person with a disability, and some of us may prefer to be identified as a person.