To correct the teacher's wording? (Disability related homework)

[BerniceBroadside]

So, it's apparently disability awareness week at school. Jolly good. Little sods might learn that when they grow up they'll need to fold their pushchair if a wheelchair user wishes to board a bus.

However, we have homework which reads, 'List items which a disabled person might use to help them'.

WIBU to amend it to read PEOPLE with disabilities, or perhaps even PEOPLE with additional needs?

Probably worth being THAT parent?

My DD loves the little twisty thing at the bottom of traffic lights and the bumps in the pavement at crossing points. She's three and aware of these things so if you find yourself walking anywhere with a pedestrian crossing maybe it could provoke a conversation.

DS1 is Autistic and so doesn't really use physical aids like a walking stick/ wheel chair or glasses but the extra sensory messages at crossings we're hoping will one day help him to cross the road.

You can't "correct" the teacher's wording, as it's not "incorrect" - it is your opinion. There are many people who hold a differing opinion from you - as explained by dancing.

Depending on the age of the child (there's a big difference between a 4 yr old and an 11 yr old) you could have a discussion with your dc around this, but you can't go in to school and tell the teacher they are wrong, when they aren't.

I think I'd ask about it, because what occurs to me is that it implies a little bit (not deliberately) that disabilities are mostly physical.

But that may just be me. I mean, it's not expecting the answer 'mummy uses little white pills to help her'.

I guess 'person with disabilities' makes it slightly easier to prompt the 'which disabilities' question, too?

yanbu
it is always person first

bernice no I mean the phrase "disabled person" itself references the social model, it that it regards a person with an impairment as being disabled by society, and society's lack of adjustment for the person.

Rather than the medical model which regards the person as simply being disabled by their impairment ie, a person with a disability.

I am a wheelchair user and would describe myself as a disabled person. I would hate to be described as having additional needs.

SoonToBeSix oh yes
I never use that term, my dd is
and is severely disabled
she is > first
I hate additional needs/SEN/Imapairment

I did some disability awareness training many moons ago and was told that we should refer to people with dwarfism as 'PORG's (people of restricted growth)

trying not to offend is a fecking minefield!

That's sort of what I meant, Tinkly. They're using the phrase disabled person, but then by asking for list of aids they're assuming the person is disabled by their impairment, not by society?

If they actually intended to reference the social model they wouldn't be asking us to list wheelchairs and grabbers, would they?

What would have been a better question?

pissyshoes I too hate 'additional needs' its to 'trying hard to be pc'

Many schools have been trained to use the term "disabled person/people" as this is the current preferred term. Another message further up explained why this is the case.

You do not need to amend it.

Your disliking for the wording is your own opinion.

I don't think you should 'correct' the teacher, as there's no consensus on what's correct.

Personally I agree with purpleroses - it's not person first in most other situations where you're describing a type of person, so why the insistence when it's to do with disability?

What dancing said.

But you are right: the homework is a pretty bargain basement approach to disability awareness. This is the problem with responding to these special interest weeks with not much experience.

Also insisting on person first seems a bit like having to remind yourself that a disabled person is a person.

It's all a boggy minefield though isn't it? I think respectful terminology is important. But what the correct terminology is seems to change so frequently, it's difficult to keep current.

For instance "handicapped" is considered very offensive, outdated terminology, with very negative connotations. But I think it actually describes very well what it's like to be disabled. Like a racehorse given a handicap, you have all this extra stuff to overcome to be on a level playing field with everyone else. Totally unacceptable now though.

I prefer to be described as a person with a disability but don't object to disabled person being used.

I'm an infrastructure design engineer

Don't just think about ramps and stuff for the bathroom. From my point of view that looks like fiddling round the edges.

Think BIG.

Think about how public spaces, transport, housing, can be made more accessible to everyone.

I think generally accepted terminology is fine but acknowledging and respecting the individual preference of the person you are talking about is important.

Some disabled people even reclaim "cripple" in the way that black people have reclaimed the n word and gay people have reclaimed "queer".

I'm not sure about that, it's just too offensive for many people.

I think it also matters when you are referencing a specific disability. My son has severe dyslexia. We prefer to say he has dyslexia, rather than he is dyslexic because to do so suggests that dyslexia is only one aspect of him, not the defining characteristic. Even more problematical is to refer to a person with dementia as demented.

TinklyLittleLaugh yes some people do "reclaim" cripple
and some people have a big Bruv who will deck you if you call them that,
best to keep to person with a disabillity
as long as you always put the person first you can't go wrong....
so best way
"hello what is your name"
"SCOTT"
hello scott

just use their name

Op don't aids help the person become more independent, and aids are used to help society become more accssible for people with varying disabilitites. My dd 7 years, is Autistic, she has headphones to use when out, and when stimulation comes too much as it does in society, this greatly reduces her distress, and she is able to cope much better. Also she has PECS to help her communicate, and to make sense of things.