Dear Shereen - I read your note with interest. My own feeling is that the
comments of the non-disabled students should be ignored. Whilst others may
disagree with me your disabled students are still normal (how i hate this
word) other than their disabilities - forgive me if i seem to be stating the
obvious here. As such they should be referred to as nothing less; the
'difference' that should only be needed is that they have additional needs
to enable them to have as good a start in life as possible. i don't know if
your school perhaps offers disability awareness education but maybe this is
an idea that can be talked through with your colleagues so that over a
period of time the non-disabled students will begin to have some sort of
understanding about disability. although i'm non-disabled myself kids as we
all know can sometimes be quite cruel. it is vital therefore that the
children that you are teaching are not 'handicapped' by a lack of confidence
as it can quite easily permeate in to their adult life. i'm unsure if this
has totally responded to your thoughts but hopefully it is of some help.
good luck with however you decide to resolve the issue.
Terry Taylor
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