Disabled CBeebies presenter attracts complaints

[MannyMoeAndJack]

This is really shocking and it's hard to believe that such ridiculous people exist:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1152466/One-armed-presenter-scaring-children-parents-tell-BBC.html

[bubblagirl]

that's awful but we know people will complain about the most stupid of things children are rarely phased by such things its adults that find it uncomfortable not all adults but some

[lottiejenkins]

I saw that and was shocked as well. These parents who have complained would have a shick if they had a child born with a limb missing..... I wonder if they would complain if people stared at their child..........?

[lottiejenkins]

Shick should read shock sorry!!

[ChopsTheDuck]

The parent's reaction si so . I doubt most kids would even notice.

[cory]

So what are these people going to do when their precious offspring ends up in the same class as a disabled child? Campaign for all children with missing limbs/disfiguring scars/mobility problems to be educated in some special establishment with very high walls?

[cory]

When I was little I was scared of people with beards. So what should my parents have done?

[TinySocks]

Well, I have to say, my 24month old DS got really very scared the first time he saw her on TV. He screamed and hid behind the sofa (he really was frightened).

I held him, explained to him that it is not a problem.

Since that first time he has been fine and has no problem watching cbeebies. In fact I think it is great to expose small children from an early age to these differences so that they can get used to them.

[AnarchyAunt]

DD (5) hasn't commented on this yet - might be that she hasn't noticed. My DSB (10, dx HFA/PDA?) who still likes cbeebies hasn't commented either. We have a friend with one arm, and it took DD a good while (and a lift in his car!)to notice. When she did the conversation went like this

DD 'Oooooh, Roo, where's your other arm gone?'
Friend 'It hasn't gone anywhere, I've never had another arm'
DD 'No, you had it last week'
Friend [puzzled]
DD [insistent]
Turned out she had usually seen him walking round with his other sleeve tucked in his jacket pocket. He was quite happy to explain and she was quite happy to be told - total non issue really.

Absolute crap for people to be saying it will scare their children - children make of things what the adults let them in these situations IMO.

[5inthebed]

Well I've read it all now! How bloody ridiculous. I have posted a comment as I felt the need. Doubt it'll get published though!

What is the world coming to?

[cyberseraphim]

But you see comments from parents who say they are terrified that a very young child's comments about skin colour might be seen as vicious racism and they seek advice on how to stop their child making comments - even if they are just innocent ones and not meant in a nasty way. The advice is that it can be a good way to start discussing the issues.

[unfitmother]

Typical Daily Mail story!

[MannyMoeAndJack]

I agree that open discussion (for anything, not just disabilities) is the best way forward, is the least likely to offend and the most likely to educate. But this article (which Sky also ran, plus others, not just the DM!) draws attention to the fact that some adults have complained about this presenter. They don't want a discussion about it, they are just really closed-minded and that is what is so terrible.

[cyberseraphim]

That's what I meant really MMAJ - that if we can discuss race or any other issue etc - why should anyone expect disabled people to be hidden in cupboards in case they scare people ?

[MannyMoeAndJack]

I hope the people who complain are invited to the studios (with their kids) to meet this presenter. The kids would soon show the dumb adults how scary she isn't.

[MannyMoeAndJack]

This story has just reminded me of a friend I worked with about 20yrs ago who had exactly the same disability (though it was her left lower arm that was missing). I can vividly remember her telling me that her mum had once been asked after her birth whether she'd trapped her arm in a door (or similar) during her pregnancy - I guess she would've been pregnant during the late 60s/early 70s.

Hard to believe really!

[cyberseraphim]

I think the dual standard may be because parents worry that if their child is perceived to be making racist comments, that the child will be seen as a 'chav' whereas there is no social stigma attached to disliking people with disabilities.

[MannyMoeAndJack]

It does seem to be the case that jokes and insults about disabilities continue to escape censure - there are still so many offensive words and phrases in common use.

[PheasantPlucker]

FFS. I am so appalled. This is really upsetting.

[PheasantPlucker]

ie the reaction, not the presenter

[Marne]

My dd1 never even noticed until i pointed it out to her (i don't think they notice these sorts of things, they tend to take more notice of peoples faces).

Riven- that's shocking , i would have made a complaint.

[coppertop]

I didn't even notice it myself until dh mentioned it. I'm not very observant.

Ds2 is the only one of our children to ask about it. He was disappointed to hear that it wasn't a magic invisible arm but otherwise was quite happy with the explanation.

Shame on those people who complained.