Resources for Advocates

Joining Public Boards and Commissions

There are many opportunities for older adults and people with disabilities to influence public policy in a wide variety of areas through service on one of the Boards and Commissions. Attached is a guide to how to become a member of a board or commission, and a list of State Boards and Commissions that are aligned with DignityMA. Local boards, committees and commissions should also be considered.

Inclusive Language

A common message in all of the Inclusive Language resources is that Words Matter!

  • apa.org – American Psychological Association – Inclusive Language Guidelines
  • cdc.gov – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Preferred Terms for Select Population Groups and Communities
  • NASAA-Arts.org – Inclusive Language Guide from the National Assembly of States Arts Agencie
  • GBH Inclusive Language Guidelines (2020) – (in the process of being updated, the new version will be released soon)

Inclusive Language regarding Aging

Inclusive Language regarding Disabilities

  • disability.Stanford.edu – Disability Language Guide from Stanford University
  • UNGeneva.org – Disability-Inclusive Language Guidelines from the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy
  • ADAta.org – Guidelines for Writing About People With Disabilities from the ADA National Network
  • ds.GMU.edu – Inclusive Language from the George Mason University Disability Services
  • media.specialolympics.org – Disability Language Guidelines for Intellectual Disabilities from the Special Olympics
  • UN.org – Disability-Inclusive Communications Guidelines from the United Nations
  • StyleManual.gov.AU – People with disability from the Australian Government Style Manual

Accessible Media Guide

Inspiration Porn

Inspiration Porn is where disabled people’s lives are flattened into saccharine narratives about overcoming adversity, usually designed to make nondisabled people feel uplifted and grateful. Two New York Times articles that explain Inspiration Porn are Helen Keller And the Problem of “Inspiration Porn Helen” and  “Inspiration Porn”: Paralympic Know It When They See It. The following video offers additional insights: The North Face presents: ASCEND, Reframing Disability in the Outdoors.