crap I knew I wrote the wrong form of "there" their*

by Anonymous 13 years ago

OK good job. Don't you wish it was easy to go change little mistakes like that?

by Anonymous 7 years ago

If it doesn't define who they are then just call them people

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Or you could stop making up all these new terms and just say handicapped, which shouldn't be offensive to anyone.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Not true. Now the political term is 'special needs'. And I totally agree with this post.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

What kind of disabilities are you talking about? People with cognitive issues who won't understand the difference (not trying to be mean) or people with other disabilities. I have a disability and I sometimes choose to refer to myself as disabled. My disability isn't everything about me, but I can't downplay its impact on my everyday life. It should be up to the people. It's like when we decided to use the term 'Native American' instead of 'Indian' when they have actually been shown not to care! If anything, they would like to be called 'Sioux' or 'Lumbee' or whatever.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I was thinking more along the lines of cognitive. But not everyone with a cognitive disability is low-functioning enough not to care. Some do. But I didn't mean to offend you in any way. You're right, it's up to the people. Personally I just choose not to even mention it until they do.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Obviously you can't disclose your identity you are very very disabled.

by Anonymous 7 years ago

Semantics.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

...I know if I had a wheelchair because I couldn't walk, I would be fine being called disabled. That's what they are, disabled. Saying they're people with disabilities is the same thing. Just call them people, or better yet, their actual named!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

not necessarily- besides its 'special needs' and you still classify other people that way- you don't say 'people with shortness' 'or people with hispanic roots' or whatever. You just say 'short people' and 'hispanic people'

by Anonymous 13 years ago

But people who have disabilities ARE disabled, that's the point... Like, people in wheelchairs can't walk, dyslexics can't read (well they can, but you know what I mean) etc...

by Anonymous 13 years ago

The point is that, say there was someone with autism. That person HAS autism, but it doesn't mean that that's all they are. Like, you can be on the high school basketball team, and though you may be a basketball player, that's not all you are. Some people choose to be called people with (fill in special need) because they feel that it is something they have that challenges them, but doesn't define them, and they don't want others to define them as such either.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yea! That's what I meant by this.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I know a lot of special needs people and I've heard this argument before. :)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

:D

by Anonymous 13 years ago