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In a message dated 96-03-17 23:04:36 EST, Gary Roberts writes:
 
>People have disabilities, they are not the disability (e.g.; you would say
>"I have schizophrenia, paraplegia, diabetes, etc", rather than "I am a
>schizophrenic, paraplegic, diabetic, etc".)
 
This is true, and a very important point.  I have wondered in the past how
much these labels really affect people's true feelings on a subject.
 
I think it's good to try to be politically correct ("my son HAS autism and a
gluten intolerance"), but it's also ok to ignore it sometimes when someone
else is not politically correct ("your son IS autistic").  People are, in
general, well-meaning, and being called "a celiac" may not be as hurtful as
being abruptly corrected.
 
Thanks, Gary, for bringing this up.
 
Karyn