Letters & Follow-up

May 26, 2004

Mr. Jack Williams
WBZ-TV
Soldiers Field Road
Brighton, MA 02135

Dear Mr. Williams,

I had the privilege this morning of attending the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at Boston College and hearing you speak. As a social worker who has worked in the area of the adoption of children with special needs, your stories are heartwarming and inspirational.

Your telling of the story about Timmy illustrates that we need to look through the disability to discover the unique gifts that people have. In that vein, I would like to make a suggestion to you. You also told the story of Benjamin and his brother, two boys with Down syndrome who were adopted in Vermont. In your talk, you referred to them as “Down syndrome boys” instead of boys who have Down syndrome. While this may appear to be a subtle difference, placing the words “Down syndrome” before the word “boys” emphasizes the disability instead of the person. Advocates for persons with disabilities recommend the use of person-first language, recognizing that they are people first, having a disability second.

Given your local prominence in the world of broadcasting, I thought you would appreciate knowing the appropriate use of language to describe persons with disabilities or special needs. Keep up your good work!

Regards,

Lisa Majewski LICSW

P.S. I am also the mother of a delightful 13-year-old boy, Benjamin, who has Down syndrome.