to think that disability hate words are as bad as racial hate ones?

[Peachy]

This is of course related to this thread but also have been in school this morning with ds1 who has been called a retard and his brother (they both have ASD) a spaz.

I would never choose to use a word that offends a group or makes them out to be lesser humans (think racial hate, homophobic words etc)- it woudl be beneath me. So why is it still considered OK for people to use terms like this for disabled people? frequently the excuse is theya re emdical terms but I am in a field that uses medical terminology for disabled people and we constantly review our language usage and minimise use of terms now regarded inappropriate.

Surely a word that offends a group of people who made noa ctive choice about their characteristic is wrong regardless of excuse?

Am fuming for ds1 but at least he is able to fight back and school took seriously. DS3 is not able to fight for himself and should not have to live with bigotry. DS1 is actively campaigning for a racial awareness campaign at school (he is Chair of School Council) after talking with some friends about the racial abuse they have encountered: am thining it needs to be about all hate langauge not one distinct group.

[Riveninside]

Agree. The boysschool wont do anythjng about the R word but they suspend people who use racist terms
Sick of it

[Pumpernickel10]

These horrible people think it's grownup to abuse someone else.
They think they are clever and funny they are neither, they are small-minded bullies I avoid people like that and threads like that on here I can't be arsed to argue with these tiny minded people. I've been called nutter on many a occasion due to my mental illness I just smile at them they want to upset me but by smiling at them they can't take it.

[Pumpernickel10]

Unfortunately you can not educate these small minded individuals. I've tried in the past and they always think they are right. These nasty people then pass their views onto their children and spew the poison even more.
Sorry to rant just a subjuct close to my heart

[Onemorning]

YANBU

[CMOTdibbler]

YANBU. Hate is hate, and unacceptable in any way to me

[halcyondays]

Yanbu. I hate those words, I seem to remember teachers always told children off for using them and I was brought up not to use them.

Wrt racist terms, I was amazed to hear someone use the n word in casual conversation recently.

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

at the RDA volunteer using 'retard!' Do people really not understand that words like that are the most offensive insults, especially in a SN setting?

There is a large and supportive community on MN of parents of children with SN and parents with SN. MN is itself a SN setting and posters need to be aware of the offense they could be causing to some of the most vulnerable people on the site.

There is a saying that a society should be judged on how it treats it's most vulnerable citizens...

[jeee]

These words are disgusting. My sister used a wheelchair, and would have youths hanging out of car windows to yell 'crip' or 'spaz' at her.

But in some ways the casual disabilism (is that a word?) was worse - the shop assistants who ignored her, the other shops who stopped her coming in because she might block the aisles....

[Peachy]

there are a few similar quotes here; i'e used the Humphrey one before. It's very true.

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

Cool, thanks Peachey. But mine sounds better...

[Peachy]

[CliffTumble]

Yanbu

[Pumpernickel10]

I remember many years ago a charity shop called the spastics society. What it's called now I don't know but back then as a teenager I thought that was offensive it's all down I think to how you have been brought up, I was brought up to treat others who I wish to be treated I try and treat everyone with respect as I want respect back

[Pumpernickel10]

As my DH says I'm a lover not a fighter

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

It's called SCOPE, Pumpernickel.

[Pumpernickel10]

Thanks Ellen

[Peachy]

Oh I;m an Sn Warrior Pumpernickel, dont; plan to be just am LOL.

the child today was reprimanded but clearly more needs to be done as ds1 was then called the R word by another child afterwards in a completely unrelated setting: he now knows to tell the Secretary (as she is always accessible and lovely) and child was told off but clearly it is fairly endemic. We will discuss some kind of council thing although ds1 is 11 and leaves to go to a wonderful AS comp in 6 weeks so time is short

[Pumpernickel10]

Snr warrior is good peachy

[GrimmaTheNome]

I was going to say much what Apocalypse said - that mocking disabled people is even worse than racial abuse because many disabled people are vulnerable, in a way that does not apply with race/sexual orientation/religious leaning etc.

[Peachy]

Grimma yes.

I was upset that ds1 had to take it; I was furious that ds3 who cannot fight back had to take it.

I am spitting amd at the Mum who told her son it was OK and hid when I saw her at school today. no doubt she will call asking for emergency childcare in a few weeks and I will have to gather the guts to explain that her son will have no contact with ds3 ever again if I can help it.