Relevant Descriptors
Whether it’s out of the brokenness within our human nature or simply how we as humankind categorize and identify the world around us, we tend to identify others first by how they are different from us as though the difference is most relevant. This happens far too often in the area of special needs. We mention a person’s disability or diagnosis even when it’s not relevant to the conversation. For example, if you are recommending a hairstylist who happens to have ADHD or a prosthetic leg, mentioning the disability isn’t really relevant to their skill as a hairstylist. That fact is neither relevant nor respectful. A simple guide for the future is to ask yourself, “Is this information really relevant to the conversation?”