advice re explaining about "disabled" people (i hate that phrase)

[Donbean]

When out shopping, my boy noticed a gentleman who was a dwarf. He stared,and although i have no feelings of embarasment (neither did the man, he was very gracious) i am keen to teach him about people in an open, frank and educational way,i do not want to make it a difficult issue. Is there a way of explaining the subject without causing any embarassment or offence to people? I have very strong feelings about equality and want to instil respect in him for other people and their feelings but how do i go about this? He is a very curious little chap but is only 15 months so he is still a baby, for the future i would value some ideas,tips and to hear about your experiences and how you dealt with this?

Ds2 is 3.5 and in a wheelchair. We get little ones looking at him all the time, and some of them ask their mum or dad why, etc. They never reply in earshot generally, but if they asked me, or if ds asks me, I just say it is because he can't walk yet as his legs need to get stronger (he has cerebral palsy). If I get asked similar questions by my children, I tend to say that we are what we are, some of us are tall, some of us are shorter , some of us can walk, some of us can't, etc. We are all different but everyone should be treated equally.

Mine are a good deal older though, preteen to 3.5

Any help?

I just say he is dwarf, he is is smaller, maybe but mor cleverer than you

Some people are smaller, some people are bigger.
People use wheelchairs because they can't walk very well.
Etc.
Is that too simplistic?

i do that too lou, dd1 asked about someone who was dribbling the other day and i said oh that happens sometimes and sometimes people have big tongues - like some people have big bottoms (me!) and others have big hair..

There is a lovely Topsy and Tim story about a girl called Jenny in a wheelchair who starts at school. DD loves it, and knows why sometimes people need wheelchairs. The little boy next door has CP, and at his sister's birthday party in the summer, he took great delight in charging the guests 20p a ride up and down the field in his electric wheelchair. DD thinks he is really cool. I think he will be an entrepreneur.

lol gingerbear

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