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From: Ed.Dobie@f175.n120.z1.fidonet.org (Ed Dobie)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Terminology
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Date: 4 Sep 90 18:27:25 GMT
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Index Number: 10084

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

JP->     Couldn't have said it better myself.  I guess that's
JP->one thing I like about kids, they'll walk right up to you,
JP->look you in the eye and ask, "What's wrong with you?"  "Why
JP->can't you walk?", etc.  They really want to know.  And the
JP->whole time the parents are freaking out and trying to make
JP->the kids understand that you "don't mention things like
JP->that"...

EXACTLY!  My daughter (9) has quite a wheelchair with vent, ECU devices, 
ect. She drives down a mall isle & every adult's chin hits the floor.  The 
kids really pay little attention.  If they do they just simple ask, "what's 
that tube do?" And a simple responce of, "it helps her breath," is all that 
is necessary.  There...the kid knows what's going on & feels comfortable. 
This kid now even has a bond with my daughter.  Then they will make an 
attempt to directly communicate with my daughter.  (She's 9 going on 39, but 
still a kid if you know what I mean.)  After that she just becomes a friend 
(in a wheelchair).

The real problem with terminology is with the non-disabled.  It's like 
anything else, just a matter of acceptance.  Since my daughters' injury, my 
wife & I, have had to do alot of first hand lingo in a lot of arenas.  We've 
been super conscience of "labels."  We've had many discussions about what 
"sounds" best or should I say what makes us feel better.  Then we decided 
that we would let Jill decide, that's when we stopped & realized that it 
really doesn't matter to her as long as she's treated with respect.

Ed  
 

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