Person First Language is very meaningful to me. When my son, Jude, was born, I was a 20-year-old and clueless about motherhood. I was even more clueless about Down syndrome and how to raise a child with this diagnosis. For two weeks all I could see was the diagnosis. I cried a lot and thought about all the things he would never be. At his 2 week appointment, I walked into the pediatrician's office and stood in line to sign in. I still felt ashamed and guilty, like his diagnosis was my fault, and I covered Jude with a blanket so no one could see him. A woman in front of me turned around and nosily peeked under the blanket and said to me, "Is that a Down's? My friend has one of those," as if my child were some breed of dog!

I was horrified and felt the anger burn inside me at those hurtful words. But I felt powerless and I didn't know what to say or how to defend him and I quietly replied, "Yes." Fighting back tears, I waited for our turn with the doctor. Finally, when he came into the exam room, the first thing he said to me was, "Rachel, you have to remember, he is not a Down syndrome child, he is a CHILD who has Down syndrome." I felt the heavens open and angels sing. For the first time in two weeks I saw my SON. His beautiful almond eyes, chubby little cheeks, and curly hair captured me like never before. And tears of anger and helplessness became tears of pride and joy. It didn't matter that he had Down syndrome, it only mattered that he was Jude.

Since that day, I have never, ever looked at my son and seen his diagnosis. He's Jude! And I have the same hopes and expectations for him as for my other children.

Words are so incredibly powerful. This is one example of how People First Language was absolutely life-changing for me and how important words are in changing society's negative perceptions about people who happen to have disabilities.

NOTE: Click here to see Rachel's wonderful story about inclusion for all.