17/02/2026
Words shape how we see people.
In our work, we are intentional about saying “a child with a disability” rather than “a disabled child.”
Why does this matter?
Because a child is a child first.
Disability is one part of their experience—it does not define their identity, their potential, or their worth.
When language puts the condition before the person, it subtly reduces someone to a diagnosis. Over time, that shapes attitudes, expectations, and even opportunities.
Person-first language reminds us that:
- Children are not their medical reports
- Families are not their struggles
- Individuals are not their limitations
They are sons and daughters. Learners. Dreamers. Citizens. Image-bearers. Human beings.
This may seem small—but in disability work, small shifts in language create large shifts in culture.
At Githima, dignity begins with how we speak—and how we speak shapes how we serve.
