The language we use can create barriers or reinforce stereotypes. It is important to choose our words wisely when we describe people with Down syndrome. People are so much more than the labels given to them by society. The vision of Good Job Buddy.org includes the perspective that the Down syndrome community benefits society as a whole. We feel blessed for having been touched by the life of someone with Down syndrome. Therefore,
->> it is very important that we use the correct terminology when referring to individuals with Down syndrome. When we describe someone with Down syndrome, we say, he/she is a person with Down syndrome. A person with Down syndrome is not a “Downs person.” When referring to individuals without Down syndrome, the correct term is “typical” as opposed to “normal.” Another realm of terminology has to do with how we describe the actual condition of Down syndrome. People do not “suffer” from Down syndrome, nor are they “afflicted.” Down syndrome is not a disease. Neither is it a dooming, genetic diagnosis. Down syndrome is a chromosomal phenomenon that was discovered by Dr. John Langdon Down. We don’t use the possessive form of this term, as in “Down’s syndrome.” Also, the ‘s’ in syndrome is not capitalized. People often wonder if the language they are using is “appropriate” when describing or talking about Down syndrome or a person with Down syndrome. We should always remember these two important ideas: “It’s okay to ask,” and “always use the language of love.”
