Must be a generational thing.  I don't mind "handicapped," and I certainly
don't mind "disabled."  I happen to think saying "persons with disabilities"
is a mouthful. "Crippled" bothers me though, as it reminds me of Tiny Tim in
Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" whom I find nauseating.

Maybe it's just me, but I've found that disabled people my age aren't as
bothered by "handicapped" or "disabled" as younger ones are.  I also happen
to think the practice of using political correctness to rename things
irritating. especially when it renders the terminology rather  verbose and
inefficient.

Kat

----- Original Message -----
From: "- Joy -" <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.c-palsy
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2002 1:31 AM
Subject: Terminology (was re: New web site idea)


> Patrick wrote:
> I just hate it when they refer to us being "crippled".
>
> Me too.  On that note, there's something that's really been bothering me
> lately.  I live in Maryland, in one of the suburbs of DC, when I'm not at
> school.  I have a job in downtown Washington, and I use the Metro (our
> subway) to get there.  The Metro elevators play a recorded message when
you
> get in that says, "Please give priority to senior citizens and handicapped
> persons."
>
> I agree with the sentiment, but it makes me feel extremely self-conscious
> when there are other people in the elevator... like they're looking at me,
> going, "Yep, she's handicapped, that's what they're talking about."  I
much
> prefer "people with disabilities", which some of the stations do use
instead
> of "handicapped".  There's something about "handicapped" that just makes
me
> feel inferior... like "retarded" or "crippled".
>
> I've been thinking about seeing what I can do to get this changed.  What
do
> you guys think?  Do you feel the same way about the term?  Am I
overreacting
> here?
>
> ~Joy~