NEWS - Knox County Board of DD

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...Events

...Important Notices

...People First Language

...Press Releases

...Publications

Events

Special Interest Trainings
All meetings take place at 6pm at the KCBDD Admin. Building conference room
Contact: Kim Wayne 740-263-1042

02/03/11: Behavior Modifications
05/05/11: County Board Services
08/04/11: Transition Training
11/03/11: Call to Action

Parent Connection Group
All meetings take place at 6pm at community locations TBA
Contact: Kim Wayne 740-263-1042

01/06/11: Scrapbooking
04/07/11: Group Driven Activity
07/07/11: Group Driven Activity
10/06/11: Group Driven Activity

Important Notices

2-1-1
Have you ever wondered how to find help or a community service for yourself or someone in need? For the millions of Americans needing help every day (from locating financial assistance during a family crisis, to finding adequate care for an aging parent, or searching for the highest quality child care) 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember number connecting them quickly to community resources and volunteer opportunities. No more wasted time trying to find the right resource. You will reach a trained, caring professional 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It's efficient, fast and easy to use. And it's all free and completely confidential.

Emergency Preparedness
The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities is collaborating with many other agencies, health care and social services providers to distribute awareness material about the need to be prepared for emergencies. Emergencies can strike at any time and have lasting effects on the safety and well-being of individuals in the community. Though some people feel it is impossible to be prepared for unexpected events, the truth is that taking preparedness actions helps people deal with disasters of all sorts much more effectively. Make a kit, make a plan and be informed. The Knox County Board now has Emergency Preparedness kits available at our Administrative offices. For more information about how you can be prepared visit www.ready.gov or 1-800 -BE-READY.

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People First Language

Language reflects how we see one another. That's why words can hurt. It's also why we use and we encourage you to choose language that reflects the dignity of people who have disabilities—words that put the individual first, rather than the disability.

Think 'people first.' Say 'a woman who has mental retardation,' rather than 'a mentally retarded woman.'
Avoid words like 'unfortunate,' afflicted,' 'suffers from' and ,victim.'
Don't cast an individual with a disability as a superhuman model of courage. People with disabilities are just people, not tragic figures or demigods.
Mental retardation or any other developmental disability is not a disease. Do not use 'symptoms,' patient' or 'treatment,' unless the individual has an illness as well as a disability.
Use common sense. Avoid terms with obvious negative or judgmental connotations, such as 'crippled,' 'deaf and dumb,' 'lame' and 'defective.' If you aren't sure how to refer to an individual's condition, ask. And, if the disability is not relevant, why mention it at all?
Never refer to an individual as 'confined to a wheelchair.' Wheelchairs enable people to escape confinement. An individual with a mobility impairment 'uses' a wheelchair.
Try to describe people without disabilities as 'typical' rather than 'normal.'

Adapted from Ohio Public Images/Public Images Network's “People First Language"

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Publications

Please click the links below to view our publications. All publications are in PDF format.

Calendar 2011