"Words can harm and disable even more "Words can harm and disable even more. The person comes first, not the impairment."

Top 5 terms preferred by people with disabilities Preferred Insensitive People with disabilities        vs.  The disabled or handicapped Person with mental disability  vs.   Mentally retarded, slow learner Person with physical disability    vs.  Cripple, deformed,  Disability or impairment       vs.     Handicap, deformity or defect Able-bodies persons      vs.     Normal person

Rights of people living with HIV/AIDS

Look at an inspirational HIV/Aids activist, Zackie Achmat

People with HIV & AIDS are doubly vulnerable They have their rights violated They face a life-threating illness

Difference between INFECTED & AFFECTED People living with the disease People living around them Difference between INFECTED & AFFECTED

People infected by this virus face the same human rights issues as people with disabilities. They are also excluded from mainstream society and face the same type of discrimination: The stigma (attitude) towards a group/type of people who have a "status". (a.k.a. they are 'different' and must be treated 'with care' or even shunned. Another stigma: their condition is their fault because of a risky sexual choice. The issue of HIV & AIDS

Women and children living in poor economic conditions Why? Some are badly educated. Do not have access to information about how to protect themselves. Often have unequal status in their community and cannot negotiate in their sexual relations Who is most vulnerable?

How are they being cut off? Don't get access to treatment Employment, housing and information rights are violated Infected and affected are ashamed to contact the health and social services Miss out on education and counselling that is available NB – In a society where such people are being stigmatized, other people are not likely to seek testing to find out their own status.