As some one who deals with chronic disability-related physical pain, i'm with you Henry. But pain and suffering are not the same thing. The issue is from what do we suffer and what ameliorative steps do we take personally and politically.
'
-devva
At 05:16 PM 3/8/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Grate or no grate most of us with physical disabilities suffer enormously,
>Psychologically and physically .It is reality.
>
>Gill Dixon wrote:
>
>> I so agree with Zoe,
>>
>> that particular word...suffer... really grates on my nerves, and offends me.
>> My son does not suffer as a result of his actual condition, but more as a
>> result of the ignorance around it.
>>
>> 'Inspirational', 'remarkable', ' emotionally intelligent', 'forgiving' and a
>> 'priveledge' are words that spring to mind when I think of him. He has
>> taught me so much.
>>
>> How much we have to learn...
>> Gill.
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: [log in to unmask]
>> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
>> > Z.Holland
>> > Sent: 08 March 1999 13:19
>> > To: [log in to unmask]
>> > Subject: Re: dismay at terminlology
>> >
>> >
>> > Dear Keith and all,
>> >
>> > I really do agree with what you wrote about terminology, Keith. In a
>> > similar vein, what really gets to me is when the word 'suffering' is
>> > so readily used to describe people who have a medical condition of
>> > some kind - as though by simply having such a condition, they are
>> > automatically a victim or sufferer. On the radio yesterday, the views of
>> > parents of children who 'suffer' from Down's syndrome were discussed
>> > (in connection with health services). Why couldn't the broadcaster
>> > be non-colourful and neutral in simply saying 'people who *have* Down's
>> > syndrome'? My sister (soon to be 16) has Down's syndrome, yet - in
>> > spite of mild related health 'problems' (hole in the heart) - she
>> > really doesn't
>> > 'suffer' at the hands of the syndrome at all. She is an
>> > inspirational, happy and fun-loving person.
>> >
>> > Why should an entire group of people - many of whom love life,
>> > and happily get on with it ... often unaware of even having a medical
>> > condition - be assumed to be 'suffering', just because they have been
>> > identified as having a medical condition? Negative terminology
>> > (like 'suffering') - freely used on national radio - widely
>> > encourages people to feel only useless and patronising pity
>> > towards people
>> > who have Down's syndrome (or dyslexia, diabetes etc. ... anything
>> > 'different'), and to perceive them as unhappy and dependent. From my
>> > experience of working with many adults and children who have Down's
>> > syndrome - and from knowing and loving my younger sister - this just
>> > isn't what it's all about! Words like 'respect', 'inspiration',
>> > 'fun', and 'love'
>> > paint a totally different - and often more accurate - picture.
>> >
>> > Words have the potential to build a bridge of mutual understanding and
>> > respect between non-disabled and disabled people ... or to drive a wedge
>> > of ignorance and misunderstanding between them. It is *SO* important
>> > that we choose the right ones in the right contexts.
>> >
>> > Best wishes,
>> >
>> > Zoe Holland
>> > ([log in to unmask])
>> >
>> >
>> > On Sunday 7 March 1999, Keith Ripley wrote ...
>> >
>> >
>> > Dismay at the language surrounding children with Special educational needs
>> >
>> > Am I just a pedant, or are there others whose spirits sink when they open
>> > newly published books, from the likes of the Open University & others
>> > (e.g. Mackinnon, D et al 1997 Education in Western Europe. Facts & figures
>> > ) & find these terms used physically & mentally disadvantaged (page
>> > 13) severity of the child, handicap or problem mild mental handicap,
>> > serious mental handicap (page28).
>> >
>> > A book such as this could be published in the UK using either the
>> > terminology of the 1981 Education Act or the current terminology used to
>> > define schools in this country. It could include a glossary of terms
>> > highlighting the variations across European countries, & a statement from
>> > 1 or more organizations for disabled people, stating why they do not want
>> > to be known as handicapped, & the term(s) that they do prefer.
>> >
>> > The Open University & other publishing bodies have a duty to educate as
>> > well as to maintain standards. This includes challenging sloppy &
>> > inaccurate use of language, such as special needs oh for a world where
>> > people did not refer to themselves as oh I work with special needs, as
>> > though children in this country exist in 2 separate bodies & that such
>> > categorization could inform so completely ..
>> >
>> > If Im the only one who feels like this I promise I will desist from
>> > highlighting such facts in student assignments.
>> >
>> > Yours hopefully,
>> >
>> > Keith Ripley [log in to unmask]
>> >
>> >
>
>
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0000,8080,8080Devva Kasnitz, PhD
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Research and Training Center
on Independent Living and Disability Policy
World Institute on Disability
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