I remember when I was younger boy growing up in the public school system, I remember using the word retard often to refer to friends that would say dumb things or do dumb things. I recalled from those days many students saying the word or referring to someone in like manner. I remember hearing others referred to kids in class that would use it to describe something silly or stupid. My acquaintances and I applied this describe to ourselves as retards or doing something that was “retarded.” It appeared to be tolerable because each individual I identified with was utilizing that word.
I am a father now. My son's name is Nigel and he is the last of my loin. Twelve years ago, Nigel was diagnosed with Asperser’s Autism. Nigel’s journey started
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out very problematical by him not communicating around the same age as his brothers. Noticing that, Nigel had only said the word mom and dad twice, by the age of three. By the age of five, his mom and I realized that something was not right and begin to reach out to find a solution to this noticeable problem. After, many trips to specialist, and testing, a neurologist in Le Bonheur help us to discover Nigel’s struggles. Throughout Nigel’s journey and struggles I can, however, attest to the fact that my son has made a gift of loving and managing his disability. Twelve years ago, it never came to mind that my son would someday be trapped in the cross-hairs of agonizing hate-speech and thoughtless verbal communication, that is used to define the a special needs population that Nigel was born into. With Nigel's distinct physical and social indicators that identify him as an individual born with Autism made the word "retard" disturbing. Even though it was no fault of his own, he has inherited the undesirable dishonor that sorrowfully goes together with the “retard” word. Yes, I am very aware of the freedom of speech that is the right of all Americans. Each individual has that free to speak right in their minds. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution is a section of the Bill of Rights. Integrated in the First Amendment are safeguards that make it illegal for Congress to infringing on the freedom of speech. However, when the words we are liberated to verbalize are intended at unambiguous populations of citizens and aim at that group in a damaging way, there are ramifications. The price paid by those who verbally disregard the self-esteem of African Americans, Jews, women, and homosexuals is sharp. Those who persist on using words like “nigger”, “kike”, or “faggot”, will most frequently pay with their professions and any shred of moral fiber that they may have been imagine to take for granted. Those who are on the receiving end of such extreme dislike speech to aim that kind of condemnation is disconnected from the social cultural of their environment. The penalty for opening into hurtful language, aimed at powerful ethnic, religious and gender based groups, are profound and final. Verbally battering those who have done absolutely nothing wrong and the person been wronged cannot defend themselves, is the most extreme bitterness that can be expressed in a socially connected cultural. It can be easily said that these individuals are bullies and cowards. To be able to conceive that individuals could pick on the defenseless and an undeserving individuals because of their differences. However, it does appear reasonable to presume that an immeasurable popular group of people who use the word "Retard" and "Retarded,” are not even conscious that their verbal communication is unpleasant and insensitive to members of the special needs community. Being redundant, there is some significance in setting the record straight: the “retard or retarded” word hurts! It is not just hurtful to the individual alone but also families, peers and others who might be battle a disability. It makes no difference that the individuals with the special needs are not in ear range to hear the words spoken. The sheer using of the “retard” word brings about an unconstructive dishonor that demeans people with out of the ordinary needs. The careless personality in which the “retard” word is thrown about merely formulates the blow even more menacing and the flood affect is even more relentless. The “retard” word hurts. There are two somewhat simply movements that expose the “retard” word for the tool of hurt that it has progressed into: First, when medical and educational systems professions consider the reference of the “retard” word as means of singling out or complimenting a person of interest.
Do we praise our peers, friends, or family members with the retard word after they have experienced a great victory or a noteworthy achievement? Is the “retard” word the thing that hope, motivation, and increase made of? Secondly, at whatever time are we obligated to use the retard word? Would the situation consent to substituting the retard word for N-word instead? Could the retard word without difficulty be substituted by any numeral of derogatory disgrace that would provide the same purpose? I would have to agree to answer that both these hypothetical is a no go in a million …show more content…
years! The First Amendment shield every ones right to use the retard word. I would have to agree that there are no single members of the special needs population who desires to negotiation any Americans’ freedom of speech. This is certainly not the reason for this paper and the statement made in it. Nevertheless, those armed with the understanding that the retarded word is a resource of hurt and that using the retard word humiliate a group that is not in a situation to guard itself. A group of individuals, who certainly, by no means, did something to merit this kind of humiliation from their peers and communities, deserves this. The hope that is centered on this paper is that people will put into effect some measure of consideration, empathy or compassion that would at least finely tuned the kindliness towards the abandonment of the use of the “retard” word. It is a civil call to join a trouble-free revolutionizing the way we interact with, regard, and address the special needs people. As a father I have made a strong effort to take the “retard” word out of my vocabulary completely because I understand what the word truly reference and how it have an effect on these individuals.
What does retard really mean? It used to be a medical expression to categorize a person who develops and have a course of action as to how information is slower than a typical person processed. Nowadays the expression “retard” has developed into an overused synonym for unintelligent or brainless. Applying the word “retard” isolate people. It formulates an environment for people to feel different. Educating people about the use of the word “retard or retarded” is what is going to make a difference in the usage. With a continues effort and steady awareness program of the usage of the word retard is can aid in the absentness of not hearing the word spoken. By promoting individuals not to use, the word “retard” can push a society where an inclusive community
exists. In late 2010, President Obama sign a law that prohibits the utilizing of the word “retarded” or “retardation” in medical, educational, and labor laws. The new law is called Rosas Law, which is named after a young girl who has Down syndrome. According to the history of this law, the Rosas family campaign for this change in their home state, Maryland. Because of individuals efforts and educating the public and government concerning the demeaning reference of the word, lead to change for all the states. The new law also spotlights the references of the one person-first verbal communication. Instead of being mentally retarded individual, it is now politically correct to say that an individual has an intellectual disability or learning disability.
I was born as Henry Wyatt Gogolin on July 8, 2001 to Jessica Webster and Hank Gogolin in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Although I do not recall all 5,403 days of my life thus far, I will likely always recall several events that have distinguished my personality and struggles from other people; the involuntary experiences have occurred as a result of my low placement on the autism spectrum. While this mental disorder has improved my academic performance, it also results in extensive perfectionism and causes generally simple social skills to serve as difficult to maneuver. I have also displayed autistic characteristics during events I held minimal control over, such as divorce, loss of family
With the growing support to ban the word “retard” more and more people have come to the defence of both sides. Patricia Bauer’s “A Movie, a Word and My Family’s Battle” and Christopher Fairman’s “The Case Against Banning the Word ‘Retard’ ” are 2 such examples. Patricia Bauer, a mother of a mentally disabled child, and Christopher Fairman, a professor at the Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State University, have two completely different ideas on weather is should be banned. Bauer argues to ban it, while Fairman is against banning it. Thanks to Christopher Fairman’s good reasoning and convincing evidence, trustworthy tone, and use of background information, his points come across stronger and lead to a better argument.
The human race is rather ignorant. We give a label to people that we think are challenged because they are not like the majority. The people that do label, are the ones who are truly blind or deaf. They see nothing, they hear nothing except what they want to hear or what they think they want to hear or see. For you see the "handicapped" can do things that non-handicapped can not. If one really thinks about it, they are not handicapped. If any one is handicapped it is the
It is true that retard people will feel uncomfortable and insulting when they hear the word “retard” because retard people deem that the word “retard” contains mock, disdain and discrimination from others. However, actually most of people only see “retard” as a word to describe a kind of mental sickness. Fairman, the author of “saying it is hurtful, banning it is worse” also argues that some bad words such as “retard” mostly are used as an academic word, he says that “he found nothing wrong with ‘calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards”(168). R-word is used to describe an academic mental illness most of time, and people do need a word like “retard” to functions as the name of this kind of mental disability. Before the appearance of “retard”, “idiot”,a word with worse meaning, did the same job and after the death of “retard” there must be a new word which also may be attached similar insulting meaning, accepting the same duty. Not only academic functions, some bad languages also can bring people senses of belonging. Although using new language more often instead of people’s original language can assist people more easily integrate into the new country, only motherland language contains an intimate feeling because original language
This book was a great read. The heartwarming tale of two young children who manage to overcome the disability under the category of autism. The author, the mother of these two children, uses her language to make the reader feel connected with the struggles of the family and the elated feeling when the children are deemed functioning within normal levels. This book gives insight on several different therapies, some that seemed helpful and others that seemed silly. It touches on the subject of inclusion as well. This book allows individuals to relate to those who have children with autism and gives parents of children with autism hope that their child's disability is not a permanent one.
Giving others who do not suffer from autism or caregivers an insight on how the individual may be feeling and what they are going through. This book can also help numerous medical professionals such as speech-language pathologists and pediatric doctors. As Grandin stated in the book that not all sufferers act, think, and feel the same so this novel may not be beneficial to readers who are looking for information on a wide scale of individuals who suffer from the illness. She also stated that there is no cure for autism, however some medications can help with some symptoms such as depression or anxiety. What intrigued me the most about Grandin was that she never gave up and worked on her social skills. Not only did she became a spokesperson for autism, but also became a professor at Colorado State University in which both require public speaking and being comfortable in front of people.
In “A Movie, A Word, and My Family’s Battle,” by Patricia Bauer makes an emotional argument that you cannot use the word “retard”, no matter how you mean it, without offending a large group of people while also setting back years of progress.
To begin defines what autism is, and the stress that is bestowed onto the caregivers that support a child with this type of mental disability. Adam M. Hutton, the author, had conducted an interview of 21 families about the recognition, diagnosis of autism in their child, services accessed, and the impact of having a child with autism on their family. A common thread throughout the thesis is the empowerment of families, that have to endure the joys and hardships that come with having a child with specific needs. The author also encourages families to use the resources available to them to better care for this type of
The Case of Temple Grandin paints a picture of a young woman’s determination and hard work while struggling with autism during a time when the disorder was unknown. This case discusses Grandin’s challenges, early diagnosis, growth and development in school, and support from her mother. Temple Grandin could not speak like the other children at the age of two, so because doctors could not find any physical issues she had been subsequently labeled as brain-damaged. To communicate with others, she would throw tantrums and scream. She could speak by three and a half years old with the help of speech therapy. A few years later at the age of five, Grandin was diagnosed with autism so her mother worked with her 30 minutes every day to keep her from being placed in an institution. At her aunt’s ranch, Grandin develops the “squeeze machine” a device used to apply pressure without being stimulating. Grandin excelles in school and receives her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College in 1970. After her graduation from college in 1970, Grandin attends Arizona State University where she earns a master’s degree in cattle in 1975. In 1989, Grandin earns her doctoral degree from the University of Urbana-Champaign in animal science. Grandin has never married, but she is proof that individuals with autism can lead productive and notable lives (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009).
While the advocates are working towards helping those who suffer from this problem a simple fix has yet to be found. Many states and courts still disagree on the terminology that defines someone as mentally retarded and the definition can be very grey. With education, time and advocates those who truly suffer from this illness can seek intervention and still have their rights protected under the U. S. Constitution and the eighth amendment.
The r-word is one of the most repulsive words in the English language; it humiliates people and is used colloquially without second thought. The word “retard” causes nothing but anguish. The r-word was first used in a medical discipline (e.g. “mental retardation”). The pejorative forms of the word “retard” and “retarded,” however, are used in society to deride people with intellectual disabilities. I find this social injustice unacceptable, especially because the r-word is often used to call people without intellectual disabilities “stupid.” When the r-word is used incorrectly, it reinforces the painful stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities as being less-valued members of society.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that effects the brains development. It is characterized by affecting communication, cognition and social interaction. The spectrum of the disorders ranges from a mild condition called Asperger’s syndrome to a more severe form, which severely impairer’s development. The Office of Communications and Public Liaison states that the disorder affects one and eighty-eight children, however ASD effects boys more frequently than girls (Office of Communications and Public Liaison, 2013). ASD emerges in all age, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The significant varied character and severity of the disorder is why ASD is considered a spectrum that poses a broad range of symptoms.
Understanding autism, which is professionally known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, otherwise known as (ADS) can be a difficult task, especially for someone who is not trained in helping persons with disabilities. The first person to discover autism was a child psychiatrist, Dr. Leo Kanner in 1943. He names the spectrum disorder after the Greek word autos, meaning of or for oneself, due to the way the child display social avoidance. Many doctors’ believed in the past that autism was caused by the way the mother not caring for her child properly or ignoring him or her. There was also a time when it was thought to be caused by certain environmental stresses that cause neurological issues within the brain. Autism is one of the most misunderstood
Changing is, at times, an extremely difficult task to achieve. As I discussed in previous papers, we develop into the people we are through learning from life experiences, our communities, and those who have influenced us. Along the way, we change our paths in life depending on who we have decided we want to become. However, once you have established a specific behavior, pattern, personality, habit, etc., it can be near to impossible to change.
The students who lack interest in learning and are normal from the birth and take long time to learn and understand are called slow learners. They are not mentally retarded children. All they need is extra care from teachers.