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| No. 10 | 
Mar 19, 2006, 10:47 AM
 Re: Words and phrases that make me want to scream Originally Posted by mercyteapot I hate pointless PC, too, but it isn't all pointless. If the 'point' is that some terms respect people and some terms don't (such as handicapped, suggesting that people with disabilities are all beggars, grrrrrrrr....), then it isn't actually a matter of being politically correct, but of not making an offensive remark. For this reason, I personally don't object to the term 'autistic' (as long as it is used as an adjective and not a noun), even though People First language would recommend 'person with autism'. On another active allnurses thread, I just read a post from someone who said she works with 'the' mentally/developmentally challenged. That term makes no sense to me. There isn't just one group of mentally/developmentally challenged people who all live and receive their care in one place. To use the term 'the' implies that there is. To me, the appropriate term would be people with mental or developmental challenges... not just because it is PC, but because it makes sense. I try not to take offense where I suspect none is intended, but OTOH, I think it is incumbent upon healthcare providers to make efforts to consider how what they say may be interpreted by their patients and families.
The problem is that it just becomes so flipping cumbersome. And it's hard to keep up with the latest "correct" terminology.
I wouldn't object to someone saying my grandson is a spina bifida kid. Heck, I think I've said that myself. I WOULD object to him being referred to as a spina bifida. Using adjectives as nouns (autistic instead of autistic kid) reduces a person to a condition and is just askng for trouble. Reminds me of hospital staff using diagnosis to identify their patients--the CABG in room 481, or the SOB in the ER. Imagine the fun if family members overhear those!
"People with mental or developmental challenges" is too much of a mouthful for me. I usually say "special needs people" because that's how I see them. They are people who, for whatever reason, need something extra to succeed or sometimes even, to survive.
I really dislike differently-abled in place of disabled. It's a euphemism that doesn't fool anybody, least of all the "differently-abled." It's up to those of us who are, or who care about, special needs people to stress that the term "disability" identifies a condition (however limited or pervasive it may be) and does NOT define the person to whom it refers.
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 11 |
Mar 19, 2006, 11:57 AM
Re: Words and phrases that make me want to scream
I must say I am really enjoying these posts...
To take a look at what we are saying and what may or may not be a misconception is a real step forward in the right direction.
People with disabilities whether mental/developmental or whatever still need to be viewed as someone with some sort of condition but with that the definition needs to have an inclusion that the person affected has abilities, competence, needs, feelings, thoughts and Dreams....People who have disabilities long to be recognized for who they are despite their condition and for what they too can contribute to our world.
People come in all different packages and all need the dignity of being cared for and nurtured to become the best that they can be along with all of our children.
I am glad there are posters like you that will stand to defend those affected with disabilities of all kinds.....
Thank You,
Heather
(Disability with a Purpose)
| | No. 12 |
Mar 19, 2006, 01:30 PM
Re: Words and phrases that make me want to scream Originally Posted by rn/writer The problem is that it just becomes so flipping cumbersome. And it's hard to keep up with the latest "correct" terminology.
I wouldn't object to someone saying my grandson is a spina bifida kid. Heck, I think I've said that myself. I WOULD object to him being referred to as a spina bifida. Using adjectives as nouns (autistic instead of autistic kid) reduces a person to a condition and is just askng for trouble. Reminds me of hospital staff using diagnosis to identify their patients--the CABG in room 481, or the SOB in the ER. Imagine the fun if family members overhear those!
"People with mental or developmental challenges" is too much of a mouthful for me. I usually say "special needs people" because that's how I see them. They are people who, for whatever reason, need something extra to succeed or sometimes even, to survive.
I really dislike differently-abled in place of disabled. It's a euphemism that doesn't fool anybody, least of all the "differently-abled." It's up to those of us who are, or who care about, special needs people to stress that the term "disability" identifies a condition (however limited or pervasive it may be) and does NOT define the person to whom it refers.
Actually, 'people with mental or developmental challenges' is a bit of a mouthful, but it isn't much longer than 'the mental/developmentally challenged'. It is only 3 extra syllables, and it doesn't imply that people who have these challenges all belong to some kind of a quarantined group, instead of being included in their communities, the way the latter phrase does. That one I think is important. OTOH, I can agree with you about calling people differently-abled. To me, that term epitomizes all that PC a bad name... bending over so far backwards to avoid mentioning the word disability that the listener ends up with no clue as to what exactly the person's challenges might be. When it comes down to it, we are all differently abled from one another.
| | No. 14 |
Mar 19, 2006, 02:57 PM
Re: Words and phrases that make me want to scream Originally Posted by mjlrn97 Can I throw in a term that sets my teeth on edge? It's noncompliant.  As if people who can't (or don't want to) follow a certain prescribed diet/exercise/medication/treatment program are somehow weak, stubborn, stupid, etc. and therefore less worthy of our attention and care. It implies a value judgment that, IMHO, has no place in nursing practice........but, that's just me. 
Oh... don't get me started! We work with families of some children who have multiple needs, and are considered 'non-compliant' by multiple service providers. Over here you've got your PT, who hasn't considered the fact that it isn't exactly realistic to hope that a single, working mom of 3 children could coordinate a 2 hour a day home exercise program for one of them. Ding. Non-compliant. Or a physician who prescribes meds that in the best of all worlds (in which case, meds wouldn't be needed) could yield positive results, if only they didn't make the kid barf everytime he takes one, or risk a dangerous side effect if taken in conjunction with another med, that perhaps the doc thinks is less impt but the family thinks is more impt. Non-compliant. Or an OT, like my son used to have, who was convinced that it was a good use of his meager 30 minute a week session to insist that he learn to tie his shoes. He doesn't have the fine motor skills to do it, and he probably never will. Let's move on, shall we? Yep, I'm one of those non-compliant moms, just because I don't want my son frustrated week after week by being asked to do something that he just can't do. Yes, tying your shoes is a useful skill, and if there was anything to suggest he'd ever be able to do so (such as if he could even get past the first step, crossing the laces, for example), I'd be all for using up his OT time to practice.
| | No. 15 |
Mar 20, 2006, 05:59 AM
Re: Words and phrases that make me want to scream
what about 'profoundly disabled kids'? because that's what i say, partly because it's easier (and i think more respectful) than saying 'kids who needed feeding, washing, and couldn't drive their own wheelchairs' and partly because it never really mattered to me to find out the precise titles of their disabilities. they were just kids who couldn't do stuff, and they made me happy every time i saw them (even when i walked into one of the boys bedrooms and found him grinning his head off, basking in the smell of his own produce. if you get what i mean..)
| | No. 16 |
Mar 20, 2006, 07:05 AM
Re: Words and phrases that make me want to scream Originally Posted by goats'r'us what about 'profoundly disabled kids'? because that's what i say, partly because it's easier (and i think more respectful) than saying 'kids who needed feeding, washing, and couldn't drive their own wheelchairs' and partly because it never really mattered to me to find out the precise titles of their disabilities. they were just kids who couldn't do stuff, and they made me happy every time i saw them (even when i walked into one of the boys bedrooms and found him grinning his head off, basking in the smell of his own produce. if you get what i mean..)
For me, that would be fine. Strictly speaking, PF language would want you to say 'kids with profound disabilities', but that's awkward. Myself, what I wouldn't like to hear, especially if it were my child, is the term ' the profoundly disabled, as in 'I work with the profoundly disabled', as though they all belong together and nowhere else. My son's disability is autism, and PF language would say that using the word autistic, as in 'he's autistic' is a no-no. I don't use it myself, but it doesn't offend me when others do. It does bother me when I hear 'he's an autistic' though, as though autism defines him, rather than describes one of his characteristics.
| | No. 17 |
Mar 20, 2006, 08:11 AM
Updated
Mar 20, 2006 at 08:18 AM by ZASHAGALKA
Re: Words and phrases that make me want to scream
Forgive me if I think this is all a tad PC and a really poor hill to pick your battles on.
It smacks of being frustrated with other issues and using THIS issue to beat up others with that frustration.
But that's just my opinion, and while I'm perfectly entitled to it, you are entitled to yours.
handicapped sounds perfectly reasonable to me. It only means something 16th Century if that is what you choose to bind on it. But it's patently unfair to hold everybody else to that binding and then assume and/or assert that that means they are being purposely 'insensitive'.
It's just as likely that you are being 'overly sensitive'.
And I don't say this to stir something up. But honestly, language is supposed to be how we communicate. And even here, there's a detailed discussion on what could possibly be appropriate. If you require people to hold their tongue unless they can divine how to speak to you in a way that is perfectly PC, then it is YOU that have misused the purpose of language: because you will constantly become uncomfortable with ANY term over time. But, it's not the term that is the problem, but the associations you make. And over time, they cannot be changed.
And so the end result is that ANY term will become un-PC over time.
~faith,
Timothy.
| | No. 18 |
Mar 20, 2006, 08:16 AM
Re: Words and phrases that make me want to scream Originally Posted by ZASHAGALKA Forgive me if I think this is all a tad PC and a really poor hill to pick your battles on.
It smacks of being frustrated with other issues and using THIS issue to beat up others with that frustration.
But that's just my opinion, and while I'm perfectly entitled to it, you are entitled to yours.
handicapped sounds perfectly reasonable to me. It only means something 16th Century if that is what you choose to bind on it. But it's patently unfair to hold everybody else to that binding and then assume and/or assert that that means they are being purposely 'insensitive'.
It's just as likely that you are being 'overly sensitive'.
~faith,
Timothy.
And forgive me if I point out that you are the exactly the type of person that I believe just doesn't get it. It really isn't necessary for you to point out to me that I have the right to my opinion, but thanks for doing so anyway.
| | No. 19 |
Mar 20, 2006, 08:21 AM
Re: Words and phrases that make me want to scream Originally Posted by mercyteapot And forgive me if I point out that you are the exactly the type of person that I believe just doesn't get it. It really isn't necessary for you to point out to me that I have the right to my opinion, but thanks for doing so anyway.
Of course I 'get it'. I just don't 'buy it.'
And I was more pointing out that I am entitled to mine. And the reason for pointing that out was that I wanted to make sure the readers knew that I wasn't some troll trying to start something.
I'm not.
~faith,
Timothy.
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