Devva Kasnitz, [log in to unmask] wrote:
> As some one who deals with chronic disability-related physical pain,>T hey are the same for me in many ways, maybe not for you.
> i'm with you Henry. But pain and suffering are not the same thing.
> T hey are the same for me in many ways, maybe not for you.
> The issue is from what do we suffer and what ameliorative steps do we take personally and politically. Meaning???????????????????
Cherrio,
Henry.
>
> '
> -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]
> >> >
> >> >
> >
> >
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Devva Kasnitz, PhD
> Research Director,
> Research and Training Center
> on Independent Living and Disability Policy
> World Institute on Disability
> 510 16 Street, Suite #100
> Oakland, CA 94612-1500
>
> Voice: 510-251-4348
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>
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>
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