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: 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [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=60871 > > > 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=62179 > First Person: > A Rehearsal for Redemption > http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=143508