CITY OF NEW HAVEN UPDATES AND MODERNIZES LAWS TO INCLUDE APPROPRIATE AND RESPECTFUL TERMINOLOGY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
“Person First Language” will now be used in city ordinances, mirroring language in both state and federal law.
NEW HAVEN, CT – This month, Mayor Justin Elicker signed a new city ordinance into law that replaces outdated language that was previously used throughout city law with more modern and respectful “Person First Language” when referring to people with disabilities. The ordinance, OR-2022-0020, is entitled, “Ordinance Amendment to Modernize City Ordinances to Reflect Language that is Respectful to People with Disabilities” and was signed into law on November 3rd, 2022.
“The City of New Haven is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive place for all our residents, and the language used in our laws and by our government must reflect that. Updating and modernizing the terminology used in our ordinances to be more respectful and honoring of people with disabilities was the right thing to do and, frankly, long overdue, and I’m glad this bill is now law,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. “I want to thank Director Knauff and the Commission on Disabilities for championing this legislation and for their continued advocacy on behalf our residents with disabilities, and I also want to thank the Board of Alders for their unanimous vote of support.”
Language used to refer to people with disabilities has changed over the decades and the updated Person First Language emphasizes the person first rather than the disability by using phrases such as, “a person who …”, “a person with …” or, “person who has …”. For example, in the ordinance amendments, the term “person with a disability” is substituted for the term “handicapped person” and the term “intellectual disability” is substituted for the outdated term “mental retardation.” All the specific language changes in the City’s ordinances can be found here.
“Language is important in the way that see each other and the world around us. Updating the terminology in the ordinances communicates a respect for people with disabilities as important members of the City with valued contributions to all aspects of our culture and community,” said Gretchen Knauff, Director of the City’s Department of Services for Persons with Disabilities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 4 U.S adults report having some form of a disability. The CDC also provides general tips and examples on person first language on its website (link).
The ordinance was submitted by Director Knauff to the Board of Alders on July 5th, passed out of the Legislation Committee on August 2nd, passed by the full Board of Alders on September 19th, delivered to the mayor on October 26th, and signed into law by Mayor Elicker on November 3rd.
The ordinance amendment, including all updated and modernized language, can be found here and additional related documents can be found here. A photo of the bill signing can be found here and is also attached.
Residents with disabilities can learn moreabout available resources, report an accessibility issue, and more by going to newhavenct.gov/disability or by contacting the New Haven Department of Disability Services at 203-946-7651 or TTY/TDD at 203-946-8582.
Press Contact:
Lenny H. Speiller (he/him)
Director of Communications
Mayor Justin Elicker | City of New Haven
165 Church Street | New Haven, CT 06511
Phone: 203-725-4249
Email: Lspeiller@newhavenct.gov
