Home |  Services | Products | Hot Resources

Language Issues

I am a resident. You reside.

I am admitted. You move in.

I am aggressive. You are assertive.

I have behavior problems. You are rude.

I am noncompliant. You don't like being told what to do.

When I ask you out for dinner, it is an outing. When you ask someone out, it is a date.

I made mistakes during my check-writing program. Some day I might get a bank account. You forgot to record some withdrawals from your account. The bank called to remind you.

I wanted to talk with the nice-looking person behind us at the grocery store. I was told that it is inappropriate to talk to strangers. You met your spouse in the produce department. Neither of you could find the bean sprouts.

I celebrated my birthday yesterday with five other residents and two staff members. I hope my family sends a card. Your family threw you a surprise party. Your brother couldn't make it from out of state. It sounded wonderful!

My case manager sends a report every month to my guardian. It says everything I did wrong and some things I did right. You are still mad at your sister for calling your Mom after you got that speeding ticket.

I am learning household skills. You hate housework.

I am learning leisure skills. Your shirt says you are a "Couch Potato."

After I do my budget program tonight, I might get to go to McDonald's if I have enough money. You were glad that the new French restaurant took your charge card.

My case manager, psychologist, R. N., occupational and physical therapist, nutritionist and house staff set goals for me for the next year. You haven't decided what you want out of life.

Someday I will be discharged . . . maybe. You will move onward and upward.

Reprinted by permission of the Advocate; a publication of ARC of Massachusetts.
 

"Special education," "special needs," and the "Special
Olympics" -- isn't it about time we got rid of them? If we can
dispense with the word "handicapped" then it's past time to stop
being "special."

"Special" implies differentness and apartness. "Special" is
the label on segregated programs: "special education" and "Special
Olympics." "Special" is a euphemism, a word introduced by do-
gooders to sugar-coat their control of our lives. After all,
disabled citizens have "special needs" not "special rights."

"Special" is a dangerous one to let go by, because it has an
aura that attracts the media. Everybody loves the "special kids"
because, gosh darn it, they're so loveable up there on that poster.
A hundred major corporations support the "Special Olympics,"
"Special Scouting" and "Very Special Arts." No right-thinking
person would dare criticize a "Special" organization. Maybe ADAPT
needs to change its name to "Very Special Activists."

A "television special" is an unusual treat. A "Special Agent
of the FBI" has extra powers. The "daily special" is an extra
value. A "special guest star" is someone considered attractive and
important. Do these qualities describe your life?

"Special" infantilizes and trivializes the identity of a
disabled person. If you are disabled, you are not "special"; you
are disadvantaged and oppressed.

When it is used to refer to disabled people, "special" isn't
at all descriptive. If you didn't know "special education" means
teaching kids with disabilities, you couldn't figure it out.

Recently, some folks with developmentally disabilities in
started a Jaycees chapter here in Tallahassee. They didn't call it
the "Special Jaycees." They called it the "Action Jaycees of
Tallahassee." Now they're a nationally-accredited Jaycee chapter,
with all the rights and responsibilities that go with
accreditation. They didn't need "special" because they didn't have
a lot of do-gooders running things for them.

Can you imagine a day when the sponsors will let the "special
kids" run the "Special Olympics"? What would they call it -- "The
Empowerment Games"?

We need to become as militant about "special" as we are about
"handicapped" and the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Let reporters and
managers of charitable organizations know that we feel "special" is
inappropriate. If you confront them often enough, they'll get the
message.

We need to deny that there's anything "special" about being
disabled, so we can stop getting "special treatment" instead of
justice.

Reprinted with Permission from The Disability Rag, 11/91
This document may be distributed freely in electronic format.