Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460!Ron.Rothenberg From: Ron.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Rothenberg) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Kicking a Dead Horse? Message-ID: <10073@bunker.UUCP> Date: 12 Feb 90 03:00:00 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Ron.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/460 - VI/BUG, Holbrook MA Lines: 121 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 6667 Hi, Sorry to bring up the question of language and names and labels again, but I came across this yesterday, and it seemed worth posting? -rsr- Watch Your Language As minorities and women have worked for their rights, for equality and jobs, it's understandable that language has become an issue. It's hard to be taken seriously when people think and talk about you in derogatory and undignified terms. The result has been a gradual weeding out of such terms in our language, with one major exception. This was blatantly exemplified by James Watt, ex-secretary of the Interior, in his swan song about "blacks, women, Jews and cripples." Although people were outraged and the incident cost Watt his job, offensive language is still out there, and accepted, mainly because awareness of the disability rights movement is still at a devastatingly low level, even among those with disabilities. Below are some of the terms that we have begun to think about, and would also like you to think about before you use them. They may be more disabling than our actual physical limitations because they reduce us to objects of pity, making us appear undignified, incompetent and helpless. How Not to Refer to Us The disabled or handicapped - This makes a physical limitation the most important part of a person. We are more interested in being seen as people, as journalists, musicians, architects and lawyers. These things are more important to us. Our disability is only a part of us. We'd generally rather have a disability. That puts it into perspective with our personhood. Cripple - Just thinking about the way in which this word is normally used makes many of us cringe. It often implies that a plane, or a government policy has been incapacitated. If we have a disability, it usually limits our mobility, our vision or our hearing. Unless people's attitudes toward us prevent them from taking us seriously, we are not crippled or incapacitated. We are still capable. People with "special" needs - Ah, that word "special," usually said in the same way that you'd say "interesting" or "unusual" when referring to a terrible musician or an incomprehensible piece of artwork. It's a pat on the head, belittling, something for which we should be grateful. Yes, we do have specific needs. Every body does, but please, not "special." Handicapped - Many us still use this word when referring to people with disabilities, but in looking at some of the implications of the word, maybe it's one that we should think carefully about. It is derived from "cap in hand" meaning to beg. Its use in sports implies a disadvantage. Many of us would rather not be disadvantaged beggars. Physically Challenged - Maybe if someone asks us to run a marathon, we'd accept this, but our disabling conditions aren't a challenge. They are a day to day reality, usually not exhilarating, as we imagine a challenge to be, and sometimes made more unpleasant by those who try to turn our disabling condition into something "special" or heroic. Invalid - Simply breaking this word down into in-valid says a great deal. It is like an expired drivers licence, or an uncalled for remark. As human beings we are all most certainly valid. Bound or confined to a wheelchair - Most of us would say that we use a wheelchair unless we are in a situation where someone isn't allowing us to try other options. Otherwise, a chair is like a car is to people who rely on a vehicle to get to and from work or shopping. Are we "bound" or "confined" to our cars? Victim - This one usually goes with "crippling disease," implying contagion. Victim also tends to dredge up pity. Now we may be "victims" of pity or prejudice, but unless people make life difficult for us, we are not victims because of our physical conditions. (The same goes for "afflicted.") Overcoming his/her disability - We have never quite understood this one. We have disabilities, and we live with them. We can't wrestle them to the ground in one easy battle. We organize our lives around them and are always trying to draw lines to let people know that we can't drive, but can edit a newsletter, we can't read the phone book, but we have read Shakespeare (and a lot of less inspiring material). It isn't a one shot deal. The obstacles are still there, and the prejudice is still there, and they aren't going go change because of one superhuman effort on our part. Courageous and inspiring - If what we have done is inspiring or courageous all on its own, thank you. If it is only inspiring or courageous because we have "overcome our disability" then it makes us into super heroes, making it seem fantastic that a person with a disability could make a normal success of things. Courageous and inspiring also allude to a certain amount of choice. We did not choose to become disabled. Patient, sick, bedridden - There are a whole host of medical terms used in talking about disability. This is odd, since most of our conditions are stable. We are disabled, not ill. The medical model tends to hospitalize us, hide us and dehumanize us. many of us haven't spent much time at all in a hospital, but people talk as if we should be committed right away. Clients - This term is used by a social service system that has an image of us as people to be taken care of, people who take, and need, and have nothing to offer. This list could go on, but this give you an idea of what we have in mind. A lot also has to do with the attitude behind the language. We are also in the process of learning about language, how it can empower us or limit us. This piece begins to give you an idea of our search for our own dignity, strength and independence. If you have any questions about language or referring to disability, please feel free to give us a call and talk about it. We certainly don't have all the answers, but would be glad to share ideas. Prepared by the Vermont Center for Independent Living, 174 River Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, Phone: 229-0501 or 1-800-622-4555 (Voice or TDD) ... Most Improved BBSer (1989) American Sighted BSers' Association. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460!Ron.Rothenberg Internet: Ron.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org