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?

Aids are not a negative thing, they are positive, and help the person.

Thanks for all the input.

Tinkly, I've been doing some reading aRound the subject and it's really odd (to my ears at least) to hear the word handicapped used on US sites.

Scone that's a good point.

Coolas, that's another good point, but it's aimed at young children so I don't suppose it was intended to provoke debate and deeper thinking.

if it aimed at young(small) children
I think makaton is the way to go.
nt kids learning that is brilliant
fun for them, and helpful for the kids with sn

Makaton, excellent suggestion! There was a child at nursery who used makaton and so they taught all of the children some signs. I wonder if dc remembers any?

Right off to bed, I think. Thanks again for all the input.

I had the immediate emotional response of 'how dare you suggest my ds isn't a disabled person, it took so long to get his disability diagnosed', secondly ds defines himself jn that way too and please don't think we think of him as his disability first, but I do think it's an integral rather than additional or special part of him. Finally, it's young primary school age homework-i object to that as a concept in itself.

Handicapped is not considered generally acceptable in the US to refer to people, but the term handicapped parking has remained and some laws still use that term.

Though, scone, I wonder how fast that has changed?

I am bravely working through a minor crush on Hugh Laurie atm, and can't help noticing that US media refer to the character he plays as 'handicapped' quite often, though of course these articles will be a couple of years old now.

The use of them as if it were singular is never acceptable.

I can't say I get that worked up over it, although I realise some people do. I don't think that if I say "my disabled son" it's any different than if I say "my blonde son"(well, other than the fact that while he is disabled, he's not actually blonde - just using it as anexample ). It's a descriptive word - it doesn't mean that's the sum total of my son. I find that I have too many other things to stress over than this. But again, that's just me. I personally think it's good that they are getting disability awareness information in the classroom in primary.

Thanks miomoo and dancing, that's really helpful. I can see now why person first doesn't work in the same way for disabled people. In that case I recount my post. I also think suggesting that small children should have a homework on how society can be more inclusive is a bit ridiculous.

As a teacher, I see the homework as a way of widening the children's understanding of physical disability and how disabled people can be independent. Some children will think that people in wheelchairs can't do anything. However, the importance of social attitudes should be discussed in class.

I think familiarising children at a young age with various aspects of disability to make it seem less scary, less of an unknown, and more approachable is important. That provides a good start. Then when they're a little bit older and can understand the context, it's good to discuss social attitudes and how society needs to adapt (rather than those with disabilities always having to adapt instead). But I think in the primary school, the societal discussions might be a bit much - maybe only on a basic level.

I'm rather confused. There's obviously a difference between 'disabled person', person with disabilities' 'people with disabilities' etc. Nowadays it's a minefield of political correctness, and the terms used seem to change quite quickly. I'm very keen never to offend or patronise anyone, but I can hardly keep up.
I was out only yesterday with an elderly friend who'd been a nursing sister for 37 years. We bumped into an old colleague of hers from way back. She's now doing volunteer work in a small hospital unit in a market town in our region. My friend innocently asked if it was a 'geriatric unit' The woman drew back in horror and said "We don't use that word any more!" I forget what she said we're supposed to say. My friend would never offend knowingly, she's the most caring lady (and an excellent nurse in her day) but it was very embarrassing.

geriatric unit? I wouldn't think that was offensive. You're right. It is hard to keep up sometimes.

Geriatrics has been replaced by Elderly Care.

Dancer your post is v interesting - so if society got to the place where Jane's impairment is catered for in every way and she is no longer marginalised would she no longer be disabled? V interesting.

I think just as we get used to one set of 'correct' terminology, they will come along and change it. I refer to myself as a cripple and non crips as 'norms' or 'ABs'

So every time I mentioned my son, you wish me to say......."my son is a person with a disability".......rather than.,......"my son is disabled"? Have I got that right?

I am a disabled person I am not a woman with disabilities it is not all I am though but I was born with a disability I think the wording is correct and I don't think you should get hung up on words that offend you and help your dd with her homework actions and thoughtfulness assist folk who are disabled not being overly offended by the words which in this case are the right ones to use,

Oh and btw I am not disabled by society I am disabled because my legs don't wotk properly

This is all very interesting as when I had some training in my old job we were told to use person first all the time so person with disabilities, person with visual impairment etc, except for when referring to students as NUS preferred the term disabled students.

Is this all wrong?

Disability awareness training is a wonderful tool but I sometimes feel that they tie themselves up in knots with phrases I can only speak for my own feeling s on it but ive had awarenes training loads of times ober the years and I roll my eyes at some of it. But most of it is progress

I'm a disabled person and tbh I find that when someone says "person with a disability" I feel like they're making a big deal out of it, I'd rather just be a disabled person. I see it no different from saying "blonde person" rather than "person with blonde hair"... the adjective comes first because that's English word order.

Dear lord, I feel sorry for the teacher, and foreigners trying to learn the English language for that matter.