FAPE

Stands for free appropriate public education. This is part of the statute guiding the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). The term was defined in Board of Education v. Rowley (1982) and further solidified under Endrew F. v. Douglas County Schools. The acronym is not widely used outside legal and disability-education circles and should be avoided. If it is used, it requires the <abbr> tag:

• <abbr title="free appropriate public education">FAPE</abbr>

Also see IDEA, Board of Education v. Rowley and Endrew F. v. Douglas County Schools.

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fascism

A political system in which a group or single leader rules from an anti-democratic far right ideology of nationalism, militarism, a distaste for cultural liberalism, and a belief in an elite societal hierarchy. This may or may not include religious ideology.

Under fascism, certain groups may be targeted for expulsion, ethnic cleansing, or imprisonment. Rights and freedoms of the population will limited, especially through fear and intimidation. Often citizens will be encouraged to report grievances or crimes against the government of other citizens.

Power is centralized in the ruler or rulers (either in authoritarianism or oligarchy), as will wealth. This will reinforce the social hierarchy.

Although term fascism is associated most closely with Benito Mussolini and his Fasciti, the Italian term fascista, meaning combat group, was already in popular political use beyond Italy by 1919.

Historically speaking, it can be argued that groups such as the Klu Klux Klan may be considered a fascista and the Jim Crow to be a system of fascism across the southern United States, just as Nazi Germany is now described as fascist.

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faze

A transitive verb meaning to disturb, to disconcert, or to daunt. Conversely, the often used word unfazed means undaunted.

Examples:

• She was fazed by the three-mile hike, as much of it was along a cliff side.
• The guide seemed to be completely unfazed by her concerns of falling.

Do not confuse with phase.

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First Voice

A way of examining history or a historical issue from the point of view of those who have lived through it or from the point of view of those who have a deep connection to it.

First Voice is capitalized.

Examples:

• The International African American Museum in Charleston is a First Voice institution.
• The 1619 Project is considered by many scholars to be both a journalistic endeavor and a First Voice work.

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first-person narrative

A literary or writing technique using the point of view of the narrator to tell the story. This uses I and me statements.

Do not confuse first-person narrative with First Voice or person-first language.

First-person narrative is rarely used in news, but will occasionally be used in analysis, commentary, and should most often be used in opinion and columns.

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flair, flare

Do not confuse the word flair, spelled f-l-a-i-r, and flare, spelled f-l-a-r-e. These are not interchangeable.

The word flair, spelled f-l-a-i-r, means an instinctive skill or ability. Examples:

• They have a flair for design.
• She has a flair for poetry.
• He has a flair for color.

The word flare, spelled f-l-a-r-e, means a fire, a blaze, or a burst. Use this also when speaking of an uptick of disease or symptoms.

• Her lupus flares during the summer and in periods of stress.
• Although the firefighters thought they had the forest fire under control, there was another flare.
• Thank goodness we had flares in our car after the accident.

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for all intents and purposes

The idiom for all intents and purposes originated in the 16th century English law. It is used to say one thing is similar to another or for all functional purposes.

The word intents, spelled i-n-t-e-n-t-s, is often erroneously replaced with intense, spelled i-n-t-e-n-s-e. This changes the meaning of the idiom. Do not confuse the two words. The correct idiom is for all intents and purposes.

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functional labels

Disabilities are sometimes described in terms of functionality. Functional labels are an outdated descriptor associated with the what is referred to as the medical model of disability.

Refrain from using functioning labels when discussing disease or disabilities. Avoid phrasing such as high functioning or low functioning in terms of a disability, including mental, intellectual or developmental disabilities. Do not use the terms mild, profound, or severe when describing disease or disability.

Use language about support needs, such as higher support needs and lower support needs, rather than discussing functionality.

Incorrect: She has profound autism.
Correct: She has some support needs, including a personal care assistant for bathing and eating.

Incorrect: He is now low functioning due to advanced Alzheimer’s.
Correct: He has high support needs, including living in a memory-care unit at a nursing home.

Incorrect: They are a high functioning autistic and live independently.
Correct: They live independently.

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