 |
| A protester at the Senate confirmation hearing for nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Jan. 29, 2025. / USA Today |
In a seemingly inexplicable move, the Health and Human Services department has cut millions in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics, citing its use of "identity-based language" as the reason.
The Department of Health and Human Services has terminated seven grants totaling millions of dollars to the American Academy of Pediatrics, including for initiatives on reducing sudden infant deaths, improving adolescent health, preventing fetal alcohol syndrome, and identifying autism early, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.
“The sudden withdrawal of these funds will directly impact and potentially harm infants, children, youth, and their families in communities across the United States,” Mark Del Monte, AAP’s chief executive and executive vice president, said in a statement to The Post. The organization is exploring options to push back, he said, including a legal challenge.
What is identity-based language?
Identity-based language refers to using words that center a person's identity, like "autistic person," or "trans person," rather than separating the person from their characteristic, as in "person with autism" (person-first language) or "person with transgender history".
While not everyone prefers identity-based language, it is a powerful tool for self-identification, promoting pride, and asserting that traits like disability, race, sexuality, or gender identity are integral, not deficits, with many communities, especially in the disability rights movement, advocating for identity-first phrasing to challenge norms and claim their experiences.
No comments:
Post a Comment