This is slightly different but it always bugged me. When I was a 
child we were part of a genetics research study on Alports syndrome. 
I was always told we were a "special" family because of this. It was 
very scary. Every year our urine was tested and we were never 
counseled about the results. The women are carriers of this x linked 
disease and the men who inherit it die in their early adulthood from 
kidney failure.  It's not visible like CP but I always thought the 
adults were lying to me and I was too young to figure it out but 
would be able to when I was bigger.
Luckily it does not appear I am a carrier. I have an article on the 
web about this called Fatal Inheritance: Mormon Eugenics.

At 08:14 PM 2/7/2006, you wrote:
>I agree! I hate the terms "special" or "excellent"(and I do not use the =
>word hate often). As a child it made me feel like they wanted me to =
>believe it was a good thing, and sorry painful PT and being the odd one =
>was NOT special. For me those words were and are demeaning to what I =
>faced. I wanted them to respect me as a person as well as the challenges =
>that were part of my life. It shaped me and made who I am, and that is =
>someone I like! I am not a victim. I am not afflicted. I have a =
>condition that does not have me. I may "special" but CP is not the =
>reason. Now as a professional that works with individuals who have =
>disabilities I find that they tend to agree with me. I of course never =
>tell a parent they are wrong to use those terms but find adults tend to =
>find saying this is NAME who has XXX to be more honest and respectful.
>
>Christine
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:   Cerebral Palsy List on behalf of Magenta Raine
>Sent:   Tue 2/7/2006 9:41 PM
>To:     [log in to unmask]
>Cc:=09
>Subject:        Re: The Physically Challenged
>rolling my eyes , do not call me "special" either, that is as bad as
>handicapped, except that on some level I don't mind handicapped as much =
>as
>disabled. Handicapped  just  means we have to work  harder at things. =20
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>[log in to unmask]
>Come visit my new store! http://www.cafepress.com/TamarMag
>visit my Blog at; http://tamarmag-newsletters.blogspot.com/
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Meir Weiss <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Date: 2/7/2006 11:49:40 AM
> > Subject: The Physically Challenged
> >
> > The Physically Challenged
> >
> >  http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article.asp?AID=3D60871
> >   =20
> > =20
> > If an individual is handicapped, he or she is challenged by Divine
>Providence to
> > uncover hidden abilities and energies to overcome his or her handicap,
>and to
> > attain higher levels of achievement than others who are not similarly
> > handicapped.
> >
> > I strongly recommend a change in the term "handicapped" -- and prefer =
>the
>term
> > "special" or "excellent". For it is their specialty and excellence =
>that
>enables
> > them to transcend whatever physical limitations they may have.
> >
> >
> >  RELATED ARTICLES
> >
> > A Timeline Biography of the Rebbe:
> >   1977: Illness & Challenge
> > http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=3D62179
> > First Person:
> >   A Rehearsal for Redemption
> > http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=3D143508