I have four concerns about people first language. The first is one of semantics. People first language often "sounds awkward." And, let's face it, talking about disabilities feels awkward to many folks to begin with. I'd rather we not make those with good intentions (or even neutral intentions) feel even more awkward by worrying them about their language use. And for those of us who are trying to model being comfortably matter of fact about being disabled (and I am definitely striving to do this), people first language can make that task harder. For me, at least, it feels truer to say "I'm disabled" or "I'm learning disabled" or "I'm tourettic."
In my next post, I'll address concern number two: that people first language actually worsens what it strives to ameliorate.