So this blog is supposed to be
about anything we want, so I decided I’m going to talk about something that is
very important to me and my future; special education. I love working with
other individuals to help them and make a difference in their lives. When I see
or hear other individuals making fun of and individual with a disability it
breaks my heart. Every time I hear someone use the word “retarded” I cringe at
the sound of it. While many people do not use the word directly related to an
individual with a disability, it is still a word very offensive to them or
someone they are related to. Actually, the phrase “mentally retarded” is not
even correct anymore. There was a law passed against that word and the correct
way to say it is, “individual with a disability.” Also, when talking about
someone with a disability, you should always put his or her name first and then
the disability. Such as, “Sam, a child with Autism” instead of saying, “Sam,
the autistic child.” Everyone on this earth is here for a reason and we all
deserve to be treated equally and with the same respect as anyone else.
Whenever I am working with an
individual with a disability there is always a smile on my face. Not because I’m
just trying to be happy and nice, but because the individual puts that smile
there. Here at ISU, I am part of the program called Best Buddies. In this
program you are paired with an individual with a disability from the Normal,
Bloomington area. My best buddy is Ed. Every time I call Ed or see him; he is
the happiest person, talking about the latest Bugs Bunny episode he has seen or
the Chicago Bears football team, which is his favorite. When I volunteered in
my aunt’s special ed classroom, it was the best experience I have had. Nikki, a
little girl with Down’s Syndrome was my little pal for that week always talking
up storm about Hannah Montana and that she was really Hannah and would even get
up and show the dances and songs she knew. Leaving at the end of the week was
so hard to say goodbye to the class, as all 8 of the children came up and gave
me a hug, sad to depart.
So next time you hear someone use
the “R” word or make fun of an individual with a disability, I hope you can
tell them to stop like I do. Instead of making fun of, become that individual’s
friend and feel the smile grow on your face. Not only will you change their
life, but watch yours change too.
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I am a special ed. major too and I also HATE the word "retarded". It is just such a horrible sounding word and just gives me the worst feeling in the world. What really gets me is when people use that word around me and don't remember that I don't like that word. I don't care if they use it in their everyday life but not around me.
ReplyDeleteOne of my childhood friends is a special ed. major and she was the first one to in my group of friends to zero in on our use of the "r" word. She is hardcore about it. If ANYONE uses this word, she will give them the look of death. It is pretty great.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you are raising awareness about our culture's rhetoric and slang. While the "r" word has dialed back since its frequent use in the 80's, the word, gay (that's so gay!), has replaced it. While people who use this verbiage do not always mean their comments to be malicious, it is importance to raise awareness that the abuse of such rhetoric is destructive and degrading to actual human beings. I applaud the work that you do inside and outside of the classroom!