Language Used When Speaking About Disability

[Acceptance]

actually my daughter has birth brain damage and is not a downs person but she had to be classsified mr to get the special ed she needed. of course some people tell me i am in denial but her iq scores are really weird. she can t do some simplew things but her problem soloving skills are age apporiate.

I think that's a common misconception, that MR and downs are the same. People with Downs usually have MR, but people with MR don't necessairly have Downs.
About your daughter, isn't that amazing how one part of the brain can be so affected while other parts remain virtually untouched?! How old is she? (kids are so cute )

 

[Didymus]

she is 20 just turned feb 28. interesting isnt it that children can be called cute but adults can t.

 

[sobresaliente]

The term that I have heard used many times is 'gimp'. Once in middle school one of the kids in my class said."I gotta go help out a gimp, I'll be right back". And then the teacher gasped and they both stared at me and I said,"What? I don't care". I'm not really self conscious about it I don't care much at all. I think it's kindove a funny story really.

When I go to theme parks and things they always use 'physically challenged' I think I like that term best. It does not imply you are not able to do something like 'disabled' it tells it like it is, you can do anything it just may be more challenging.

The only time I would not approve of such terms is when they are used in a negative way with a lot of cuss words in between. Any cuss word in general really bothers me, cuss words never make anyone sound intelligent.

Sobresaliente

 

[Bartimaeus]

i say deaf or blind rather then hearing impaired or vision impaired. i find most people don t mind. i am not into the politically correct speak

Thank you. I'm not into PC speak, either. I am blind, and that's all there is to it. Not visually challenged or any baloney like that.

I do admit that, at times, I get frustrated when I perceive that people are doing some sort of dance around having to use the word blind, as if it will offend me. Why should it? Blind is what I am, after all.

 

[lucypevensie]

Thank you. I'm not into PC speak, either. I am blind, and that's all there is to it. Not visually challenged or any baloney like that.

I do admit that, at times, I get frustrated when I perceive that people are doing some sort of dance around having to use the word blind, as if it will offend me. Why should it? Blind is what I am, after all.

The thing is, some people DO get offended. Some people get offended by someone using "blind" and some people are offended by the term "visually challenged". So that's why we feel like we must dance around. You never know...

 

[Bartimaeus]

The thing is, some people DO get offended. Some people get offended by someone using "blind" and some people are offended by the term "visually challenged". So that's why we feel like we must dance around. You never know...

This is true. I guess I just too easily call a spade a spade., and a club a club, and a diamond...well, you get the joke.

Anyway, in all seriousness, I just call it what it is, and don't worry about being politically correct. I don't get rude if I am called "visually challenged", but I do politely point out that I prefer to be called blind instead.

 

[HOLYisHISname]

As long as you dont ask me what I "suffer" from... because to me I don't think I am suffering. Otherwise you can say i am disabled or whatever, because i am.
But i would rather hear the my self refered to as someone who is challenged.

HOLYisHISname

 

[I'ddie4him]

I can't believe that people are so closed minded to not join the 21st century and find a much kinder way of describing things.
I walk with a cane about 95 % of the time and the only poeple who call me gimp is my family.
When I see someone else that is in a wheelchair or motorized scooter, I generally offer some help if I can and try to always do it in a way that won't offend them.
I myself use a wheelchair at times since I can't walk for more than about 10 minutes or so without hurting to the point that I can't walk.
I see the stares and kids gawking and stuff, It does get to be a little annoying, But, I deal with it by waving or smiling or making some kind of friendly gesture.
Being PC isn't easy for some people, I guess we can call them COMMON SENSE CHALLENGED.....

 

[pieman3141]

LOL
personally, I have a habit of reducing things to their most basic concepts. I refer to myself as crippled/gimped when I'm in a humourous mood. For other people, I'm nicer.

Essentially, I could care less what people call me. Plus, I'm self-deprecating without blowing out my self-esteem and ending up in depression. Retarded, gimp, cripple, whatever. *shrug*. Apathy is great, eh?

 

[Missy Baby]

Yes words can wound a person...especially if they already know that they are disabled in any way, but in the end they are still human! So whats different between them and us??? "NOTHING!" Anyhow, respect means a lot, people shouldn't judge or generalise or have terms for people with disablity of any kind!

Well thats my opinion.
God Bless All

 

[Ave Maria]

Yes, it is important. Although I am not physically disabled, I am developmentally disabled with rather severe ADHD. I would feel horrible if someone made a rude comment about that.

 

[Kyebosh]

Galatians 3:28
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus"

Lables are very destructive in their own way. The fact that they act so covertly adds to their venom. As soon as you place a label on someone or something you immediately create a division! There will be no equality untill all labels & segregations are forgotten.

There is no racism if there is no black & white, no sexism if there is no man or woman, & no discrimination if there is no able & disabled.
This is how God's glorious Kingdom will be arranged.

 

[Tihana]

So many good points here, so I don't know how much I can add
However, I guess the main point for me is how people speak, and not what words they use. Some people I meet just talk "about" me rather than "with" me. I don't know why, but they seem to think that being in a wheelchair makes me stupid, too. That annoys me much, much more than those who use words like "handicapped" or such. I mean - okay, I have a handicap - that's a fact. The word itself isn't offending - the attitude of some people is.

Hope that made sense?

 

[Darkie]

I think the poll was to broad though to vote for... Does the word hurt to be called? Depends whose calling you it...

I have a friend who will call me "crippled" at times... And I mean in the "Hey Cripple, what's up!" form.
He calls me it due to an accident that left me in a wheelchair for 6 months, now reduced to a bad walk.
Do I mind though when he calls me it? No, not at all... I've known him for over 5 years and he defended and helped me through that rough time...

If a random person i've known for a week calls me that, I tell him/her off good for that.

The first guy means no harm with it and does it as a more friendly, good mannered way. He was there for me when I needed him and I know how he means it.
The second person wouldn't really know its meaning and would be saying it just pointing to my disability... Just be more cruel