Handicap. One only needs to recognize the word's origins to under its offensiveness. Cap in hand. Nope. I've tried to convince our local Special Ed Consortium to stop qualifying kids for Special Ed based on their 'handicapping condition', but they just roll their eyes at me. Sigh.
Calling autism a mental illness. It's not. It may seem contradictory to say this, since I also find the stigmitization of mental illness unfortunate, but let's be clear. Autism is a developmental disorder, not an illness of any kind.
Saint. As in you're such a saint for taking care of your child. In the first place, such drek usually is coming from the mouth of a Mom whose kid is out in my front yard hacking at my rose bushes or doing something equally annoying. Since I am sure this child has many fine qualities, I resist the urge to tell her I'd be tempted to drop her kid off at the foot of a mountain. And of course, if we were my kid, I wouldn't dream of dropping him off at the foot of a mountain. We love our children and do everything we can for them, just like parents of typical kids. Why is that so hard for certain people to 'get'?
Stricken. Afflicted. Suffers. Whatever. How about the words 'has autism' or whatever they have, and you leave your personal judgment out of it?
In the past couple weeks, I have seen people in another thread express opinions that it is ever appropriate to suggest an out of home placement to a mother who hasn't asked for your opinion on the topic, heard a Speech Therapist call in to a radio show and talk about the handicapped kids she works with, and talked to a Special Education teacher who made a joke about insanity in the family of a child with a mental health dx. Honestly, I don't expect Joe Q. Public to be enlightened, but it would sure be nice if those who claim to be professionals acted a bit more aware at times.
