29 replies to this topic

[greybeard]

Sir Philip Craven, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, refuses to use the "D-word", and believes the 2012 London games will help to consign it to history.

Disabled himself, and a former wheelchair basketball player, he explains his dislike to BBC News: "It needs to be removed from the lexicon as it pertains to human beings.

"I mean, let's face it, if a machine gets disabled, it doesn't work. And that is the way that the word has influenced people's minds in the past.

"People say: 'Peter round the corner, he's disabled', before they even start to talk about what a wonderful guy he is, or what a not-so-nice guy he is. You immediately get to that differentiating point.

"If you're going to be talking about the positivity of human kind, why kick off with negativity?

"Someone said to me recently that [disability] is very much a political word for differentiation.

"I'm not getting into politics but if you think about it, it normally doesn't need to be used. What does ' you are disabled' mean?

"There's an incredible difference between a wheelchair user and someone who's blind, you know."

Though Sir Philip may dislike the term "disabled", many identify strongly with it and believe it is helpful.



Full BBC report HERE

Edited by greybeard, 08 September 2011 - 07:21 AM.

[RSUK]

I hope it does change peoples perceptions and attitiudes, even only if a little will be a positive step.

We are still able to do so much so i must admit im not a great fan of the word.

The media could make the biggest influence but is there another suitable word?

Good stuff GB, on the ball as ever with the morning news

Rich

[HiltonP]

We're seeing a lot of oddball statements being made in the buildup to the 2012 London Paralympics.

In a somewhat bizarre BBC interview Tanni Grey-Thompsons criticised Oscar Pistorius for his efforts in participating in able bodied sport. She claims he made the Paralympics appear to be a B-grade event, which is quite strange coming from Tammi since she should really understand that the Paralympics are a B-grade event when compared to the able bodied Olympics. Every event is B-grade by comparison, other than perhaps the Soccer World Cup.

And now, just this week, Pistorius is described in a BBC interview as being an "inconvenient embarrassment".

Perhaps someone has decided that the best way to publicise the Paralympics is to create controversy, which is quite sad if that is the case.

As for Sir Philip's comments regarding the use of the word "disabled", I understand his point, but at the same time I would be interested to know how he would identify us as a community?

[pinkcloud]

I know that i aint just some overweight crip. So i'm ok with others labels of me. Maybe more help for them whom who just class themself as a disabled person is the starting point ....
I think Sir Craven is right, yes being disabled to me, simply means that a body part does not work. I've said this for years.

Blind peoples eyes dont work properly. Thats pretty obvious.to understand as when we shut our eyes we cant see anything either;.

Peoples legs dont work they have to go in a chair. They can relate to that when they have walked too far, get shakey legs and want to lie down. They dont need/want/care to understand that it may be due to ms, sci, arthritis....it looks bad, thats enough information for them.

in life we go..peter up the road, you know the sexy/ugly/clever/thick/tall skinny bloke..before all his other personality traits.....describling him as disabled/in a chair/bedbound/blind/walks funny first is just another version. Its life, its what people do. So what.

The truth..some people see an injured bird, they feel sad, they see an injured person, they feel sad. Hello? Thats no pity party...simply empathy.

Some ######s see a injured rabbit on the road and put their foot down to kill it thinking its funny, they see an injured person and try to kill their emotions thinking its funny.

Maybe if more people accepted each other not just on looks/what they got, but personality thats a start. But they dont as the media dont make money from that..much more from clothes, make up, stuff for the home, cars.....then again what do many people do on greeting? 'hi i'm peter and i am an accountant/solicitor/male escort/chip shop owner...and they are their job.

Political correctness..loads of old ###### tosh.

[greybeard]

Right on the money as usual, PinkCloud.

[ClaraTaylor]

It would be helpful if he suggested another term - what are you meant to call yourself? Differently abled makes you sound like you should have super powers or something, cripple - well I adore the cripple word but others don't like it... what other words / phrases are there?

[FROG]

Pinkcloud is spot on!!!! Hey folks, it is only a word. We have the opportunity to make of it as we will. I think many of us are way too sensitive. And that over-sensitivity works to our own disadvantage. So loosen up, see yourself as you are and enjoy what you have. We only have this one life to live so we had best make good of the opportunity.

[quadinva]

Im not one to get all PC but as I think about what Sir Phillip said, he makes sense. I can do most things ABs can do and can even do things they cant. Im not advocating for a language overhaul but 'differentiated' sounds good to me. Hence I will start parking in the Differentiated Parking Spots

[greybeard]

but 'differentiated' sounds good to me. Hence I will start parking in the Differentiated Parking Spots

Hmm. "Gimp" is a lot easier to spell!!

[Tinbasher]

I wouldnt mind seeing the back of Disability as most of our difficulties in leading an ordinary life have little to do with "ability".

I would however want to keep Disabled in the Social Model sense. IE a description of the socio political state created by a society which takes little or no account of our needs.

[edlee]

I guess, Tin,, if I was in your governmental position,, I might 'say" the same. As I'm not,, and I don't pay attention to what anyone calls me or refers to me as,,, I think,, along with Pinky,, that it's all a bunch of politically correct ###### tosh.
ed

[pinkcloud]

Pinkcloud is spot on!!!! Hey folks, it is only a word. We have the opportunity to make of it as we will. I think many of us are way too sensitive. And that over-sensitivity works to our own disadvantage. So loosen up, see yourself as you are and enjoy what you have. We only have this one life to live so we had best make good of the opportunity.

Thanks FROG and Ed

I actually like to know who dont want to associte with me because i walk like a 1980s drunken break dancer who looks pregnant thanks to me abdo muscles being on a permanent holiday.

If I aint good to no one becuse of having a body with broken parts then great, i know that they have their brains in their legs and are fearful of talking with people whom actually have the brain in the head.

Its a great filtering system I reckon. if others only want me because i'm perfect to them, well i'm doing them a favour too because perfect is too much hard work for me and they would be rather disappointed. Poor loves.

i can do lots of things ab's can do..also a lot of things that other abs cant do...just like before i got sci...guess that makes me the same as before then

[dom]

I agree with pink also people are people and it's just another way of describing them i don't know where the parameters from callig someone 'disabled' come in however,taken to the extreme if i had a broken finger would i be classed as disabled as i have lost the use of that part of my body?

with differently abled to me the term sounds ridiculous and is the opposite of a description if i can't move my legs how can i call them abled differently or otherwise?
To me differently abled would mean i was double-jointed or something,

[greybeard]

if i had a broken finger would i be classed as disabled as i have lost the use of that part of my body?

If it stopped you from holding a glass of ale, I'd say that was a significant disability.

[Tinbasher]

There is no such thing as "just words" words are our most powerful tool for good or evil.

Would you employ a cripple, spastic, psycho or invalid?

I am not talking about pc nonesense but recognising the social and political power of language. When the Nazi's wanted to persecute minorities they first used language to dehumanise them Jews became "rats" disabled people became "usless eaters" . In the persecution of black Africans adult men were called "boy" so as to make their status less than the white men.

We each have the right be called what we want but to simply dismiss it as only words is a superficial view.

Tin (Disabled Person)

Edited by Tinbasher, 09 September 2011 - 07:41 PM.

[Snakeye]

Ya, I like "gimp' the best but perhaps we can come up with the ultimate PC term..like "Lower trunck challenged but still very worthwhile person" or "Typical can't walk for shit individual but please don't dare stare." Society is sooo sensitive nowadays...I get a kick out of old newspaper headlines from back in the day that said. "Cripple Ran Over by Car" or "Gimp Falls in River and Drowns." Much to do about nuthin really...

[dom]

if i had a broken finger would i be classed as disabled as i have lost the use of that part of my body?

If it stopped you from holding a glass of ale, I'd say that was a significant disability.

Haha Geoff i'd say it was a tragedy lol without nicking your thread i was reading this article http://victimsofatos...buse-i-suspect/ and it seems a bit negative what are the views on apparelysed in the wider sense particularly when the gov are doing all these cuts and there seems to be a shift in the media pro disbility bashing

[dm999]

but 'differentiated' sounds good to me. Hence I will start parking in the Differentiated Parking Spots

Hmm. "Gimp" is a lot easier to spell!!

Gimp is Good ! Never really liked disabled. Don't no why we dropped the Golf word Handicap a term to level the odds.

[Steven K]

I use all sorts of words to describe myself. I hope the word disabled never goes away, I would love to get money for my condition. Can't collect disability if we get rid of the word!

[wheeliebear75]

We could all start coming up with OTHER descriptions; biped-ally challenged, MOTION-ally delayed, (for those with hardware supporting bones etc.) structurally enhanced, and we can start calling paralysis "muscular vacation".....or we can just stick with the dreaded D-word.....DISABLED I think still covers it more effectively.

What we really need to do is change the PERCEPTION of "disabled". SHARK....is it a blood thirsty killer OR a part of nature to be respected? DISABLED....does it mean life is over OR life is different?

[andypandy17]

Pinkcloud is spot on!!!! Hey folks, it is only a word. We have the opportunity to make of it as we will. I think many of us are way too sensitive. And that over-sensitivity works to our own disadvantage. So loosen up, see yourself as you are and enjoy what you have. We only have this one life to live so we had best make good of the opportunity.

I completely agree with ya !

[brockit79]

I'm Brockit and I refer to myself as, amongst other things, a Disabe. It is derived from the word disabled but I think it sounds cooler and almost rhymes with babe (which I am OF COURSE).

Power to the disabe posse!

[edlee]

It's not the words that have power, Tin,,, it's the general understanding of the meaning and sense of that word. Take away the bad feelings YOU have for ANY word,, and it can no longer hurt you. You will never change the public view of ,,,,, me,, for example,, by changing what you call me,, or by my name for that matter,,, because eventually the public will simply see that new name as descriptive of what I am.

Words change nothing,,,, it's perception that causes change. If we want to be thought of as "whole",,, then it behooves us to ACT like it,, and not find offence where none is given.

Would I hire a "

cripple, spastic, psycho or invalid? '

Well,,,, probably all but the psycho,,, but I'd have to interview them first to see if they could perform the tasks I would hire them to do. What I wouldn't hire is a "BITTER" cripple, spastic psycho, or invalid.

I am who I always was,,, but now I'm doing it in a chair. I feel it's a better use of my time to interact with those around me on that basis than to tell them to be careful of how they describe me.

Sorry Tin,, but it appears we view the world differently.
ed

[Tinbasher]

Sorry Tin,, but it appears we view the world differently.
ed

Of course we do, we view it from different sides of the atlantic, different histories, different political systems and different societies. As individuals we were educated in different systems, have different political beliefs and personal experiences.

I am not suggesting that changing the words used to describe us would make a miraculous change nor am I saying that other peoples choice of words offends me. What I am saying is that just as you say language has the power to strengthen or weaken those perceptions which create barriers for disabled people. The U.S tends to view disabled people as individuals each fighting their own personal battle with their own physicality. The UK and to a degree the European view is that disabilty is created by BOTH the personal struggle or challenge with our own particular impairment AND the barriers created by a society that takes little or no account of our needs. Some things can only be solved or improved by personal medical intervention and others can be solved or improved by political action, DDA, ADA legislation and education.

In the UK disabled people are more likely to be unemployed, poor, homeless or in residential or institutional care. When they are employed it tends to be in a job below their educational level. Much of this is down to the way society views us and our worth and not because of our individual impairments.language is a part (admittedly a small part) of constructing those barriers. It's not about being a bitter crip or having chip on my shoulder it's just a socio political take on disability.

Simply saying that some words are BAD and therefore banned is of no help at all but explaining why some words are unhelpful and help re-enforce discrimination can change the perceptions and attituded you spoke of.

No need for apologies

This is what discussion forums are for


Tom

[FROG]

There is no such thing as "just words" words are our most powerful tool for good or evil.

Would you employ a cripple, spastic, psycho or invalid?

I am not talking about pc nonesense but recognising the social and political power of language. When the Nazi's wanted to persecute minorities they first used language to dehumanise them Jews became "rats" disabled people became "usless eaters" . In the persecution of black Africans adult men were called "boy" so as to make their status less than the white men.

We each have the right be called what we want but to simply dismiss it as only words is a superficial view.

Tin (Disabled Person)

Tin,
In all due respect, I didn't mean to be superficial. But, from my perspective it is still "just words".

[Chrisonwheels]

'Invalid' used to be the word for 'disabled'.
I prefer to use an 'accessible toilet' to one that is 'disabled'.
If I'm to defined by my medical condition call me paraplegic.
If you want to say I use a wheelchair say 'wheelchair user'.
I really don't appreciate being called disabled; its' too meaningless and negative in connotation.
Words are important; they bring clarity when used correctly.

[Tinbasher]

'Invalid' used to be the word for 'disabled'.
I prefer to use an 'accessible toilet' to one that is 'disabled'.
If I'm to defined by my medical condition call me paraplegic.
If you want to say I use a wheelchair say 'wheelchair user'.
I really don't appreciate being called disabled; its' too meaningless and negative in connotation.
Words are important; they bring clarity when used correctly.

Thanks Chris I was beginning to feel lonely

[Tinbasher]

Tin,
In all due respect, I didn't mean to be superficial. But, from my perspective it is still "just words".

"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causeswhich impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.........."


Just words?

Tin

[edlee]

They are , indeed,, beautiful words,,,,, but not individually,,,, and only because we understand what they mean. While the meaning would be understood by anyone,,, only those who can read and understand the english lanquage can see any value in the group of sylables printed.

If I/we/they choose to believe something ( that those who are unable to do certain things, are of less value than those who can),, changing the words with which we describe that condition,, will not change their beliefs.

If I could somehow change human nature,,,, making people stop using words others don't approve of would be far down on my list of things to change. Much higher up would be to get everyone thicker skins.
ed

[skeaman]

i will tell you what i think

wouldnt it be great to see all the ones talking about the paraolympics  like the tv panel and all the wheelchair winners talk about what work that has to be done for spinal cord research and getting the word out. unfortunately this is not put out there when they are being interviewed trust me  if not  there will be more ones trying out for the next olimpics. is it only me every time the tv comes on about how good the olimpics was i know there was a very small  tv coverage about cord damage but mostly it covered the work that has been done about amputise. back to the point we need money for research is it only me that is thinking this