Lisa,
No I don't take this as an attack - far from it! I asked for feedback and
it is good to get it. Nothing like healthy debate.
How would you all suggest we deal with this? As an airline we have to
signify to our personnel that there is some requirement for certain
considerations to be put in place. I personally believe that the term
special needs is a good fit for the reasons that I outlined in my mail
message.
I certainly do not like the term "disability" and if you look at the DDA it
uses the term disabled all the time and makes reference to giving disabled
people the same facilities that able bodied people enjoy. That is something
that MUST change but to what? As I have mentioned, one can be disabled yet
quite able bodied - so the term disabled sends all the wrong messages. I
speak from the perspective of the parent of an autistic child and, being
realistic, I don't ever see him being able to fully integrate into society.
We may get our son reading, writing and able to function but, and I hope I'm
wrong, full integration for him is unlikely to happen.
I don't know if Andy was suggesting using the term "impaired" but that was
the feel that I got from reading the message to me and that to me is an
anathema. I much prefer the term special needs to anything else that I've
come across to date.
Being pragmatic, I think that there is a need to label if there is a special
requirement to be respected, particularly for our business where we have a
legal obligation to care for people from the time they board our aircraft to
when they de-plane. This is especially true in the case of an emergency
during a flight. Whilst there is no legal obligation on us whilst they are
on the ground (this I have checked with our legal department), we want to
extend the care that we offer to assist in that aspect.
I don't really believe that your analogy fits well but then it gets your
point over.
What term would you suggest? Going to basics, do you accept that there is a
need for some form of terminology? Again being pragmatic, I believe that
there will be a need for some form of differentiation, particularly when you
are talking about a disability such as autism. These people are special,
they are different. A fact of life I'm afraid. Finding the right balance
is crucial and I do accept the need to integrate rather than differentiate
but, for some people, that just may not be practical.
May I wish everyone the compliments of the season and a Happy New Year.
Regards,
Patrick
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, December 27, 1999 3:42 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: proposed extension to UK disability discrimination Act
Andy and all,
I must agree with you on this one 100%. We must get away from this term
special needs. We could say steps are a special need for those who cannot
fly. And yes that sounds ridiculous, but to me the term special needs is
silly too. Everyone has needs and more then likely I can bet the needs of
most are the same. To refer to the needs of disabled people as special,
once
again segregates.
I know of several companies who have taken disability equality training and
have found it to been very informative and a great step toward social
inclusion. I have a close friend who is a Disability Equality Trainer if
anyone would like more information on a good training program.
I hope you do not feel this has been an attack on you Patrick. I think what
you are doing is a great step of progress for your company and I would not
want to lessen that achievement.
Regards,
Jude
In a message dated 20/12/99 10:20:15 GMT Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< Finally whilst I applaud the measures you are taking I really think
you must look at the way you refer to disabled people. As a person
with a spinal injury who uses a wheelchair my needs may be different
to those your company sees as being the norm but are far from special
nor do I want special treatment. I want to be able to use your
services as safely, easily and as comfortably as any non disabled
passenger.
Grouping disabled people into a special needs class does not do much
for inclusion. >>
Judith M. Irving BSc arch. envir.
LSA Design consultant
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