The Kansas Senate approved a final bill that updates the term “hearing impairment” to “hard of hearing” in state statute, according to an article in the Kansas Reflector.
Related article: Phrase ‘Deaf and Dumb’ Slated for Removal from Tennessee State Code
SB 343 reflects the thinking that the terminology “hearing impairment” is an outdated phrase that doesn’t conform to modern ways of referencing disability.
“As a general rule, it is proper when referring to a person with a disability or disabilities by putting the person first and then using a positive reference such as ‘a person with a hearing loss,’” said Robert Cooper, executive director of the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing during a hearing on the bill last month. “Individuals may prefer you to refer to them as deaf or hard of hearing.”
Legislators and advocates also plan a campaign to educate the public about correct usage of the terminology, beyond the statute.
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
Source: Kansas Reflector
