tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post4435077616080171207..comments2024-03-28T05:52:50.399-04:00Comments on Autism with a side of fries : The hill you die upon Eileen Shaklee http://www.blogger.com/profile/04658354442888448425noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-2325238191602701632023-07-12T18:14:59.105-04:002023-07-12T18:14:59.105-04:00Amen! Rest in peace!Amen! Rest in peace!Hannah Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09194796284708304123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-76268603720951474932015-07-09T11:59:19.897-04:002015-07-09T11:59:19.897-04:00I have an Autisitc sister. I also use the word ret...I have an Autisitc sister. I also use the word retard or retarded. Now before you jump down my throat please read the rest. I would never, call my sister or anyone else with metal disabilities retarded. The word has no evolved as an insult yes which is why I would never use it to describe someone who was born a certain way or had something happen to them for them to be slower than others. I use the word to describe people with average intelligence who are making an error, or doing something that is stupid. I do not think my sister is stupid, or retarded. She was born with a metal disability and cannot learn the way others do, that does not make her slow or delayed because she is using what she was given. How can that be slowed or delayed behaviour when that is all she was given to work with? She's only slow when compared to others which she should not be anyway, as society mentions all the time how wrong it is to compare. Anyway point being is, the reason the word is so offensive to people is because of the power people give the word. If its an insult why do some believe it to be acceptable to label mental disabled people with that term? if it is an insult why is not ok to call someone who is acting "slow or delayed" (which a the true definition of the word) retarded when they were born with average mental capacity? Why is calling them retarded not considered the same as saying they are stupid or they did something idiotic? ITS JUST A WORD PEOPLE and it only has power if we give it power. Before you go on assuming I must have never dealt with the stigma of the word, I have. Kids are cruel. Its been said to me that "I must be retarded just like my sister" before. It bothered me that she was being called that name because yes i think of it as an insult and i use it as an insult or in a joking manner to a friend who is doing or saying something I find dumb. I dont see anything wrong with that and I doubt i ever will. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-34049788867895132912014-03-23T16:47:05.863-04:002014-03-23T16:47:05.863-04:00My sister has Downs and I love this:) As a fire-ba...My sister has Downs and I love this:) As a fire-back to the music response, the r-word is NOT used in music. The word is ritardano and is abbreviated at rit., so this is not a valid argument:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-38692851597460468732014-03-09T21:21:27.998-04:002014-03-09T21:21:27.998-04:00Hello there this is Keegan again from the Sluis ac...Hello there this is Keegan again from the Sluis academy and i must say what a great piece of advice. when i do have kids i will make sure to remember that one. If they dont know it can be done then they wont as for it! brilliant! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-77294158074993898962014-03-08T15:01:50.205-05:002014-03-08T15:01:50.205-05:00I actually lot a friend over this exact argument. ...I actually lot a friend over this exact argument. I couldn't understand her stoic defense of the word.... as her freedom of speech... but not my response to her use of the word... as mine.moongipsieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051791270809474272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-89473406706044652072014-03-08T13:19:18.691-05:002014-03-08T13:19:18.691-05:00I had my first Facebook un-friend this week due to...I had my first Facebook un-friend this week due to this a few days ago. I shared a post about the end the R-word day and an old roommate came back with "That's retarted politically correct nonsense" or something like that. He knows my child is an autistic non-verbal 3 year old. I came back with a message about how there's nothing political about it. It's just about respect for people like my son. And also about not sounding 12. His response? That I was teaching my child to be a victim. That I need to toughen him up. Yeah right, the kid I still haven't had a conversation with. I found out that un-friending is not enough, you need to block people. Private messages escalated with me dropping f-bombs and him saying something like "sounds like quite the offspring you have bred." For him to act that way makes me think he must actually be some sort of sociopath. Some people don't have a conscience. Maybe I shouldn't have shared the thing in the first place. It's sort of just jackass bait, right? Anyway, hopefully a guy I will never hear from or see again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-66360163946463464002014-03-08T12:22:46.575-05:002014-03-08T12:22:46.575-05:00My son has autism and is developmentally diabled. ...My son has autism and is developmentally diabled. MR as a medical term doesn't offend me, but people who use it as a derogatory term aren't doctors. I am offended by the new term "intellectual disability." I would rather hear "retarded" than that!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16949180089515485246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-77958502416240627682014-03-08T12:22:03.268-05:002014-03-08T12:22:03.268-05:00My son has autism and is developmentally diabled. ...My son has autism and is developmentally diabled. MR as a medical term doesn't offend me, but people who use it as a derogatory term aren't doctors. I am offended by the new term "intellectual disability." I would rather hear "retarded" than that!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16949180089515485246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-40146488517877961492014-03-08T01:11:12.553-05:002014-03-08T01:11:12.553-05:00Why not find another friend
Why not find another friend<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-9112740110968339432014-03-07T22:59:02.797-05:002014-03-07T22:59:02.797-05:00Bravo! And as a professional musician, let me add ...Bravo! And as a professional musician, let me add this to your weaponry .... it's "ritard" with an 'i' which is short for the Italian "ritardando, to gradually slow down. So there's the argument when you are told "but it's used in music", because it isn't. Plain and simple;<br /><br />Blessings to you!Becsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03431771337756235845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-52363897547487325562014-03-07T22:05:51.522-05:002014-03-07T22:05:51.522-05:00Why would you use the r-word to describe your son ...Why would you use the r-word to describe your son when you could simply explain developmental disability - and not perpetuate the use of the term - clincal or otherwise? Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17372506073034824892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-6707695121355285772014-03-07T21:27:17.970-05:002014-03-07T21:27:17.970-05:00Well said! I have a grown son who has autism, alo...Well said! I have a grown son who has autism, along with a myriad of other disabilities. I'm also a teacher. Whenever I hear a student use the 'r' word, I quietly correct the student and let him/her know why it offends me. Many people don't even think about using it as being disparaging to people who are "other-abled". They tell me that they didn't mean it that way. I respond that since they were giving their friend a put-down, how else should it be interpreted? I also tell them about my son, which usually makes their eyes pop out of their heads, realizing that a real live person is being affected by their words.Beth C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10519220823870833988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-11938211948224194192014-03-07T17:43:04.859-05:002014-03-07T17:43:04.859-05:00Thank you for touching on all the arguments people...Thank you for touching on all the arguments people use to justify hurtful, hateful speech. (My other annoyance is calling something, "so gay," or using any related words as put-downs.) When my kids and their friends were younger and captive audiences in my car, I didn't hesitate to correct and educate them every chance I got. After a while, they at least learned not to use those slurs in my presence. I'm happy to say that I don't hear it as much, but if I do, I do take the opportunity to point out the offense. I've taken the pledge and post as many Spread the Word posts as I can in an effort to educate others. As an educator who works with kids with a variety of challenges and who personally know adults with developmental disabilities, this is my hill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-87594138761326698202014-03-07T17:17:12.292-05:002014-03-07T17:17:12.292-05:00Thanks for fighting the good fight.Thanks for fighting the good fight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-12833323494291475322014-03-07T13:29:09.081-05:002014-03-07T13:29:09.081-05:00Awesome! I hate the r word! Nicely written!Awesome! I hate the r word! Nicely written!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07879041853706871596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-37529133379786722782014-03-07T13:28:01.253-05:002014-03-07T13:28:01.253-05:00i'm a loved one, & even tho i hate the r-w...i'm a loved one, & even tho i hate the r-word even being spelled out and won't do it, i love ur blog and shared it on all platforms i could. i took the pledge yrs ago when i first found r-word.org and despite my severe social anxiety, i've been doing my best to fight this battle.. reporting posts/tweets/etc and trying to educate the ppl, usually failing lol, but i still try. thank u for being so honest, frustrated, loving, and supportive of this cause. it's an uphill battle, but one we need to win!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-37469058888283654142014-03-07T13:26:21.080-05:002014-03-07T13:26:21.080-05:00Great piece. One small correction: the musical t...Great piece. One small correction: the musical term is "ritardando" (often abbreviated to "rit."), not "retard" or "retarded." It's Italian for "becoming slower" and it is always a temporary direction. Neither circumstance fits "retard" in this derogatory usage, and I guarantee that the musicians are not thinking of themselves or any of their fellow musicians as inferior in any way for following the musical direction. I have an autistic granddaughter and if I ever hear anybody call her such an awful name, I may just yank off my artificial leg and beat them over the head with it. And yes, I genuinely have a disability. She marches to a different drummer sometimes, but her only real handicap is ignorant people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-66192464717202523792014-03-07T12:21:24.794-05:002014-03-07T12:21:24.794-05:00When I hear someone blatantly use the R word, if t...When I hear someone blatantly use the R word, if they do not believe it is a problem, I get very calm and offer them a deal.<br /><br />"You're right, words aren't important. You can call my daughter a r****d if I can call your President a n****r. Deal?"Greg Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-90483376425271287322014-03-07T12:10:34.960-05:002014-03-07T12:10:34.960-05:00I too have an Autistic son, at the moment I am at ...I too have an Autistic son, at the moment I am at odds with my boss over her use of this hateful word! The kick in the gut is, I work for a special needs program for the military, she's in charge of the program. Twice now she has used the "R" word as a slur. I pointed out to her, not only is it a slap in the face to me, but as the manager of this program she should know better. I've gone to her boss to complain. Thank you for doing your part to end this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-71493930954943487752014-03-07T12:03:18.342-05:002014-03-07T12:03:18.342-05:00Awesome! This article gave me chills at the end ...Awesome! This article gave me chills at the end because of how adamant and defensive I am over the word as well... you said it everyway I'd like to when I hear the "R" word... someone wouldn't appreciate it if they had a child with autism or any other disability for that matter... thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-63286263325099684482014-03-07T11:35:45.992-05:002014-03-07T11:35:45.992-05:00I completely agree with you about mental retardati...I completely agree with you about mental retardation. For 34 years I have used this term to describe my son's disability to those who do not understand the term developmentally disabled. But sometimes I hear grown adults say things like " you're such a retard!", or "how retarded!", it makes my blood boil. So I purchased 50 wristbands that say "SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD". I plan on carrying them with me at work and handing them out to the surgeons and anesthesiologists who use the word retard as an adjective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-713184370418853782014-03-07T11:34:40.784-05:002014-03-07T11:34:40.784-05:00It's all about the context to me. When you hea...It's all about the context to me. When you hear people saying, "That's so r-------," they are not referring to the clinical term. Or, "He's such a ******." If it were being used only in the medical way, we would not have this battle. It is now in the vernacular with a meaning that refers to the people on whom it could be used as a clinical term as an example of the lowest things a person could be. That's why we have to stop it's use.kiwibeeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16416008583841536274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-76929018639322415982014-03-07T11:33:40.060-05:002014-03-07T11:33:40.060-05:00Rotten autocorrect. *its, not it's. I know you...Rotten autocorrect. *its, not it's. I know you know, I'm just particular about these things. kiwibeeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16416008583841536274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-6068977042089070072014-03-07T11:31:14.356-05:002014-03-07T11:31:14.356-05:00It's all about the context to me. When you hea...It's all about the context to me. When you hear people saying, "That's so r-------," they are not referring to the clinical term. Or, "He's such a ******." If it were being used only in the medical way, we would not have this battle. It is now in the vernacular with a meaning that refers to the people on whom it could be used as a clinical term as an example of the lowest things a person could be. That's why we have to stop it's use.kiwibeeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16416008583841536274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644538309673050572.post-63829597564997725972014-03-07T11:13:14.016-05:002014-03-07T11:13:14.016-05:00You are a terrible parent.You are a terrible parent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com