Gene.Zeak@p0.f219.n137.z1.fidonet.org (Gene Zeak) (08/21/90)
Index Number: 9931
AB> What else can you do? If you see or hear reporters use
AB> incorrect terminology (even to save space in a headline or time
AB> on the air), call them or send them this page so they can be
AB> aware of the appropriate words to use. Tell them it matters to
AB> you and to people with disabilities.
AB>
AB> Any comments anybody?
AB>
AB> Take it easy....but take it!
AB>
AB> Adrienne
AB>
Hi Adrienne...
I agree with much of that, in general. Thanks for sharing it.
My concern (presently and long lasting) is, and has been, that we as
a group (those that "have a disability") are far too often far too
sensitive to semantics. Quite often I have seen a really well
meaning person put down for using a particular chioce of words. In my
opinion the intention of the heart is a lot more important than the
choice of words.
With that in mind let me say that I *DO* think it important to be as
specifically correct as possible, but the speaker (writer) needs to be
corrected in light of their intent, not just their choice of words.
I've seen both sides...the wimpy response of, "Oh well, let them
be...they mean well." and, "Get 'em, they used to wrong words!" To me
the appropriate response lies somewhere in the middle, and that is
what I'm promoting.
You may think this message is directed at you...it isn't. It's just a
cry in the wilderness for the application of reason...
Later, Gene...
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!137!219.0!Gene.Zeak
Internet: Gene.Zeak@p0.f219.n137.z1.fidonet.orgJoe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain) (08/25/90)
Index Number: 9983
[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]
AB> What else can you do? If you see or hear reporters use incorrect
AB> terminology (even to save space in a headline or time on the air),
AB> call them or send them this page so they can be aware of the
AB> appropriate words to use. Tell them it matters to you and to people
AB> with disabilities.
In 1970 I was selected as the Freshman Teacher of the
Year in my school district. During her introduction, my
principal referred to my students as "MR. C's kids." They were
a group of socially and emotionally and learning disabled
children.
I smacked them on the back of the head when they
needed it. I made them run laps around the 1/2 mile bus island
when they had too much energy. I made them do homework and
called their parents at work when they didn't.
I loved them. I took them on special field trips. I
treated them like they were worth something. Today one of them
owns a Chevy car and truck dealership and one operates his own
commerical painting/wallpapering business.
Some kids even went to the principal and asked to be
placed in my class.
Point. It's not what you say, but how you treat the
individuals involved. You can call them "ding-bat" and still
convey love.
-=joe=-
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Joe.Chamberlain
Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.orgGene.Zeak@p0.f219.n137.z1.fidonet.org (Gene Zeak) (08/28/90)
Index Number: 10005
AB> At the same time words are important. The connotations that
AB> words carry are important. I believe that the process is
AB> circular. Words influence ideas (beliefs, prejudices, etc.)
AB> which influence words and around and around. You need to break
AB> into the cycle. Changing words is one way to break into the
AB> cycle. But if it is not done in the context of the intent of
AB> the speaker, I can't imagine that it could be successful in
AB> changing attitudes. We'd just end up with a new set of words
AB> with the same bad old connotations attached to them. I like
AB> the approach that this article takes in pointing out that a
AB> person is a person first, the disability is just one part of
AB> that person.
Attitudes are *SOOOO* hard to change. Even the counselors at Easter
Seal's Happiness House here locally occasionally think of the clients
as being, "less than." And, to be perfectly honest,,,now, THAT'S
hard...someone with a disabilty (like myself) is "less than." In my
particular case, I am "less than" physically, but not mentally, unless
you consider weird!
AB> Did you read the article by Nancy Mairs, "On Being a Cripple" in
AB> Inside MS (from the Natl. MS Society) a few years ago? (I just
AB> reread it, it is the Summer, 1986 issue and I can post some
AB> excerpts if you or anyone else are interested). It generated a
AB> lot of heated feedback pro and con in the next issue. She makes
AB> her intent in her use of the word cripple quite clear in the
AB> article and she is right, for what she is saying it is the right
AB> word.
AB>
AB> Take it easy....but take it!
AB> Adrienne
I don't think I've read that...may not even have it. I'd be very
interested in reading some of the parts that you thought were good.
Later, Gene...
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!137!219.0!Gene.Zeak
Internet: Gene.Zeak@p0.f219.n137.z1.fidonet.orgEric.Bohlman@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org (Eric Bohlman) (09/05/90)
Index Number: 10082 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] > AB> with disabilities. > > In 1970 I was selected as the Freshman Teacher > of the > Year in my school district. During her introduction, my > principal referred to my students as "MR. C's kids." They > were > a group of socially and emotionally and learning disabled > children. > I smacked them on the back of the head when they > needed it. I made them run laps around the 1/2 mile bus > island > when they had too much energy. I made them do homework > and > called their parents at work when they didn't. > I loved them. I took them on special field trips. > I > treated them like they were worth something. Today one > of them > owns a Chevy car and truck dealership and one operates > his own > commerical painting/wallpapering business. > Some kids even went to the principal and asked > to be > placed in my class. > > Point. It's not what you say, but how you treat > the > individuals involved. You can call them "ding-bat" and > still > convey love. > -=joe=- True, but the terminology people use CAN influence how you treat the individuals. From what you've said, you treated each of your students as himself rather than as an instance of a category described by a particular label. When one gets in the habit of putting the label first, however, one can also get in the habit of thinking of the person as an instance of the label and acting accordingly. There is a balance to be struck; it IS too easy to get hung up on minor variations of terminology and insistance on using the "correct" words. That doesn't mean that there ARE some cases where terminology can have negative effects. As an example, I can see a clear value in saying "Down's Syndrome" rather than "mongolism." I can't, however, see the same value in saying "Down Syndrome" rather than "Down's Syndrome." -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!115!778!Eric.Bohlman Internet: Eric.Bohlman@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org
Dan.Payne@f5.n290.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Payne) (09/05/90)
Index Number: 10115
AB>Any comments anybody?
AB>
AB>Take it easy....but take it!
AB>
HERE HERE...pardon the indelicacy, but very few things p*ss me off more than
(well intentioned) prople that feel that just because I have to use a wheelchair
for distance travel, that I am incapable of opening a door for myself or that
I HAVE to be pushed everywhere...yes, it's well intentioned, yes they are trying
to be considerate, but why can't they wait untill you ask for help instead of
making you feel helpless.... I lost my temper at school last quarter when a
kid just walked up behind me and started pushing my chair for me...didn't say
anything untill he had pushed me about ten feet.....I hit the brakes, got out
of the chair and told him I could do it myself......(he almost fainted when
I got out of the chair!!!)....
later
dan
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!290!5!Dan.Payne
Internet: Dan.Payne@f5.n290.z1.fidonet.org