wtm@bunker.uucp (Bill McGarry) (08/28/90)
Index Number: 10000
[Note from Bill McGarry: I have taken this from a fax copy of the
contest brochure. I cannot guarantee that there are no typos or
inaccuracies in this file.]
CREATE A NEW WORD CONTEST
THE PRIZE:
A check in the amount of $50,000 will be presented to only one
winner of the National Cristina Foundation's "CREATE A NEW WORD"
Contest. The winning word will be selected by a distinguished
panel of men and women in the literary, academic, rehabilitation and
communication fields.
The prize of $50,000 is donated solely and in its entirety by D.
Bruce McMahan. The prize winner will be announced on or about
January 28, 1991. All words submitted for the contest will become
the property of the foundation. All members (and their families)
of the National Cristina Foundation and its volunteer advertising
and public relations agencies are prohibited from entering the
contest. There is no fee to enter the contest.
RULES
You may submit one entry at a time. Each individual "word" you
create must be submitted in a separate envelope or on a separate
post card. This entry may be "created" or "invented" and not
appear in the dictionary, thesaurus or encyclopedia. Or, the
entry may be a new combination of existing words that has a clear
single meaning. All entries must be postmarked no later than
November 30, 1990.
For additional copies of literature, call 1-900-988-WORD (there is
a $ 3.00 charge for this phone call).
Revenues collected during the life of the contest will be utilized
to defray the operation and cost of the contest and to further
support NCF's mission.
CONTEST RATIONALE
What do you call someone who can perform all the functions
required of them in their work, or in their personal life, despite
a physical or mental impairment?
Do you call these people cripples? Handicapped? Morons? How
about invalid? Impaired? Disabled? Hardly! Does anyone truly
think of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller, or Stephen Hawking
in terms of their "disabilities" instead of their
"accomplishments"?
We are talking about human beings, people who have certain
physical or mental obstacles in their paths, yet are achievers.
"Disabled" does not mean "unable" to live a positive contributing
life.
The goal of this contest is to literally invent a new word, a
positive word, "a good word" to describe this valuable group of
people. And, that this new word forever be part of our language.
THE NATIONAL CRISTINA FOUNDATION
The National Cristina Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation
directing commercially obsolete computers, computer equipment,
audio and video equipment to organizations training people with
disabilities, the disadvantaged and students at risk.
All equipment and technology are distributed to these training
organizations at no cost. The Foundation works within national
and state frameworks that include departments of education and
rehabilitation. In addition, many organizations that provide
education, rehabilitation or job training to persons with special
needs are recipients of this donated technology.
Over 30,000 people in more than 4,000 National Cristina
Foundation partnership locations here and abroad are using
computers to train and improve skills essential for employment.
For example, in Maryland alone, 2,5000 computers have been
distributed to schools, universities, hospitals, rehabilitation
centers and agencies that are providing job training to people
with special needs.
And most importantly, all innovative, new and successful
technology applications are shared by all members of the National
Cristina Foundation network.
In recognition of its work nationally and internationally, the
Foundation was awarded the National Rehabilitation Association's
prestigious Organizational Award for 1989. This award highlights
the unique role the National Cristina Foundation plays in creating
employability among people with disabilities and others with
special needs.
HOW IT BEGAN
A child's request to her father for a computer for her special
education class sparked the development of an idea and a program
that now engages the efforts of thousands of people.
Cristina is a real person. She has cerebral palsy which caused
her to have motor and learning difficulties. In 1980, her father,
Bruce McMahan, donated a computer to her class, which was taught
by Yvette Marrin.
This single personal computer turned out to be one of the original
pioneering applications of this technology to meet the needs of
the "handicapped".
That computer made a real difference in Cristina's life and in
the lives of the other children in the class.
For Cristina, the changes were dramatic. She grew from being a
shy, introverted child to a youngster, happy and confident in
here new abilities.
By 1984, it was determined that a Foundation should be
established and that it would be named in honor of Cristina. In
its earliest form, it was intended to be a simple extension of
the experiences learned in Cristina's classroom -- but it rapidly
expanded its focus to help people of all ages with special needs
lead more productive lives.
The Foundation was formed by D. Bruce McMahan (Chairman) and
Yvette Marrin (President). Bruce McMahan is the sole general
partner of McMahan Securities Co. L.P. Dr. Marrin has been an
educator for many years working as a teacher, an educational
therapist, and an administrator. She holds a Ph.D. in
Organizational and Administrative Studies and has extensive
training in Special Education.
CREATING A NEW WORD THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE ABILITIES, POTENTIAL
AND SUCCESS OF "PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES"
A great many people with disabilities have clearly demonstrated
their ability to be productive partners in our society. The words
we have available in the English language are not adequate to
describe these people in a positive manner. The major
shortcoming in our language needs to be corrected.
WHAT IS NEEDED
Most "people with disabilities" have to live by their own special
management skills. They have been forced to acquire a survival
attitude, like that of the jungle fighter, where you must sort
out your abilities and match them to your environment to live
successfully. The "new word" must recognize that a person's
disability acts as a guiding force in developing special skills,
attitudes and understandings, bringing successful living.
WHAT THE WORD SHOULD BE
Our purpose in the creation of the word is to define the truth
that many of our greatest survival stories started in an
"injured" population. The people living these success stories
develop well-honed skills to overcome adversity. They are a rich
source of survival tales we have always admired.
The word will become a communications tools serving several
functions:
First, it will identify people who have used their abilities to
become outstanding contributors to our society -- people whose
disability served as a guiding and energizing force in helping
develop skills, attitudes and understandings the kind of
achievement requires. This group includes thousand of people
like Itzhak Perlman, Bob Dole, Stephen Hawking, Barbara Jordan,
to name a few.
Second, the word will apply to the millions of others who have
not yet achieved this level of success but are in various stages
of learning to use their disability as a force in developing the
specials skills, attitudes and understandings that eventually
will help them live successfully.
Third, the word will be used to address the rich potential of
disability-stimulated development in people. Therefore, it can
be used in relation to a person or group to define the sense of
promise.
A WORD TO DEFINE A PLACE IN THE HUMAN STORY
The human race, in all its complexities and diverse settings,
instinctively appreciates the elements of heroic survival wherever
they are found.
The basic formula for the most highly successful literature,
plays, movies or songs, dramatizes the gains or losses someone
experiences. Most often this relates to how he manages or
mismanages his resources in trying to overcome obstacles to
achieve his goals. While there is a category of "mismanagement
plots" by far the most popular are those stories focusing on the
biggest gains against unbelievable odds, using minimal and common
resources.
When Daniel Defoe returned to write "Robinson Crusoe" a story of
living by your wits in an environment unimaginable to most in
18th century England, he became a worldwide celebrity. This
theme didn't start with Defoe, who didn't choose to be part of
such a survival contest, but started long, long ago.
The strength of the kind of theme strikes a chord in all of us
and goes back to needs developed in antiquity. Survival is not
assured. Not in the caves of our "primitive" ancestors and
certainly not in our world today. We have an innate need to
appreciate and absorb successful survival stories.
WHY WOULD NCF CONDUCT THE PROGRAM TO DEVELOP SUCH A WORD?
An award of $50000 should make it personally worthwhile for many
thousands of people to make the effort to understand the conditions
that lead to the need for such a word.
Clearly, the chances of coming up with the winning word improve
greatly as the current situation is understood. That situation
is faced daily by people with a disability who are living
productive, successful lives, and yet can only be described in
words having a negative connotation. Having a disability does
not mean inability.
A person living successfully and having a disability is the sign
of someone who has graduated in the top of their class. They
have transcended and survived and in the process have become rich
resources to the community. The advances in computerized
technology and rehabilitative art are part of the growing triumph.
To have the best chance to create the right word, the factors
relating to potential, resource and achievement in today's
population of people with disabilities needs to be understood.
Reason one for this contest is that hopefully millions of people
will pause to reflect deeply about the new positive realities in
the lives of people with disabilities.
Reason two for this contest is the clear and distinct need for
such a word. We must be able to communicate positively and
effectively about people who are productive partners in our
society and also have a disability.
Reason three for this contest is that once understanding the new
possibilities in the lives of people with disabilities, others
will come to realize the importance of NCF's work in channeling
commercially obsolete computer equipment into educational,
rehabilitation and employable skills training programs. Public
awareness of the second-life value of this technology will
accelerate its availability to people with disabilities.
HELPFUL HINTS
The goal of this contest is to invent a new word. Or use a new
combination of existing words with a clear, single meaning for a
group of people -- who in the past -- have been described in
negative or exclusionary terms. When designing your new word,
you might find the following pointers helpful.
1. Avoid a word that indicates separateness, or exclusion.
2. Avoid a word that implies specialness.
3. Avoid a word that is negative in any way.
4. Avoid a word that is patronizing.
5. Consider a word that does not pre-judge.
6. Consider a word that personifies the central humanity in all
of us.
7. Consider a word that brings people, previously singled out as
different, into the mainstream; people who may have special
needs but are not separate from us.
8. Consider a word that looks at a person, as a person, not as
someone with a disability.
9. Consider a word that might act as a guide or reference point
to help focus on abilities, not inabilities.
10. REMEMBER, DISABILITY DOES NOT MEAN INABILITY.
GOOD LUCK!
==================================================================
"CREATE A NEW WORD" CONTEST ENTRY FORM
My "New Word" is: ______________________________________
Name: _____________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________
City, State and Zip: ______________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________________________________
Name: ____________________________________________________
(Only one entry per form, please)
Mail to:
NCF Contest
2301 Argonne Drive
Baltimore, Maryland 21218
For additional copies of literature, please call 1-900-988-WORD
($3.00 charge).
To donate obsolete or surplus equipment, call 1-800-CRISTINAGene.Zeak@p0.f219.n137.z1.fidonet.org (Gene Zeak) (09/13/90)
Index Number: 10339
V> If a person can't say "handicapped, disabled, or whatever in
V> my prescence comfortably, then I don't see how they can
V> "ever" be comfortable in the face of my reality!
V>
V> I am disabled and proud and I for one, don't need nor want
V> another more gentle or comfortable label!!!!
V>
V> Keepin' the faith!
V>
V>
V> . Vixen
V>
Ah, but then you wouldn't have (cynicism showing through) one of
those "thousand points of light" coming from a "kinder and
gentler nation."
"A rose by any other name...." Like you and many others I really
get discombobulated (messed up) when people think they can be
nice by using "softer" sounding words. It's their actions that
count, always has been...always will be.
Have you ever noticed that, by far, the majority of those who
think that cutesy labels makes a person feel better is one of the
temporarily able...and usually a therapist?
Disabled, physically challenged, crippled, whatever...I have a
hard time walking...I AM, Gene...
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!137!219.0!Gene.Zeak
Internet: Gene.Zeak@p0.f219.n137.z1.fidonet.orgRon.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Rothenberg) (09/13/90)
Index Number: 10347
BB> for another. Persons with disabilities need opportunities not
BB> cutsie words. They need people to understand that they are a
BB> large and important part of our society, that given the chance
BB> they are good employees, parents and citizens. We can make a
BB> better, more just world but it will take more than playing
BB> with words.
BB> Bill
And I was all set wit "Disablo-Americans."
... How do you make a million? Start with $900,000.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460!Ron.Rothenberg
Internet: Ron.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.orgVixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen) (09/18/90)
Index Number: 10422
Hi Adrienne,
Well, when a word, in and of itself is not offensive and it does
"identify" and properly understood, such as "handicapped" or
"disabled", I think looking for another word to say the same thing
is reduntant.
I am not ashamed of being a disabled person, nor am I ashamed if I
am referred to as handicapped or disabled, these are not offensive
terms or labels, but I find a search for a word that is supposed to
"cutely" imply that I am disabled without saying that I am
disabled, is absolotely rediculous.
It seems to me, that unless one is so over driven to escape any
mention or indication or denial of their disability that they are
ashamed of these labels and who and what they are, that the words
"handicapped and disabled" are effective and unoffensive.
It is up to the individual to show that being disabled or
handicapped doesn't mean that he or she is ineffectual or non
productive, it can't be done by finding one more way of saying
handicapped or disabled.
Of course, we all do have our own little bugaboos I suppose, in
that I for example, would not stand for someone labeling me as an
"Invalid" because I am very very valid!!! Heheh.
Yep, I think we have enough words to describe us. Anyway, if I must
be disabled in this life, then by all hell, let the world see that
I am disabled and let them see just what a disabled person is
capable of!!!
Keepin' the faith!
. Vixen
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Vixen
Internet: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org