tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post7045828716758278569..comments2024-03-14T20:03:33.771+02:00Comments on I am a broken man/You can't break me: There is no such thing as disabledEric Fischerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471331868560587898noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post-58099503116635796262011-01-11T15:54:23.727+02:002011-01-11T15:54:23.727+02:00Eric,
And it's so easy for us to push others ...Eric,<br /><br />And it's so easy for us to push others out of our group, isn't it, to reject them and dehumanize them in the process? It's enough to set my heart to aching. Psychologists studying altruism are engaged in a debate as to whether we can truly be altruistic since there is usually a pay off of at least getting a dopamine rush from the act of kindness, and therefore it's not really altruistic, and in most cases the chance to feel better about ourselves. It turns out that one of the techniques for helping depressed people feel better about themselves and life is to get them to do something nice, to volunteer. Giving of ourselves, our time, our affection, our emotional investment are, I think, some of the most important things we can do because when we give these things, action has to follow. <br /><br />People are endlessly fascinating. :)Kim Wombleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492455180502821052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post-77649050496961689772011-01-11T08:32:27.463+02:002011-01-11T08:32:27.463+02:00Kwombles, very well said. Personally I think a sim...Kwombles, very well said. Personally I think a simple paradigm shift is needed where the concept of giving (not money or even time) in the deepest sense is accepted. We just have too much survival instinct in us to truly care about a group we don't belong to.<br />As to your personal life, it looks as though you've finished what's on your plate and you could use another healthy helping of trouble. O.oEric Fischerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02471331868560587898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post-75584690022846681992011-01-09T01:15:56.738+02:002011-01-09T01:15:56.738+02:00It's an interesting issue to consider. Many in...It's an interesting issue to consider. Many in my family struggle with challenges. For my children, I created a song to sing about issues, multitudinous and many. And I'm trying to raise them to realize that some people have more issues and greater challenges than others, but that we all face various struggles. I do not think of my girls as disabled by their autism, although my son's challenges are greater because of autism and intellectual impairment. My brother is physically and mentally challenged because of a stroke and mental health issues. My mother struggles with various diseases and chronic pain that make her life challenging, and I suppose, though I don't like to consider it at all, that I am not far behind her in those challenges. It makes life interesting. <br /><br />Accommodations make a world of difference in the challenges we all face. Support and acceptance go even further, and finally our attitude about the challenges and issues we face can make the difference between what we consider to be a good life and a bad one.Kim Wombleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492455180502821052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post-4604727899209822102011-01-04T00:46:51.928+02:002011-01-04T00:46:51.928+02:00Bill, thank you for the comment and the response. ...Bill, thank you for the comment and the response. Obviously I was not looking primarily for a new word to bandy about, but rather, exactly what I am getting, responses by people who have thought long and hard about it as well as lived it. My experience of the matter is for the most part through my son who is so decimated in his existence that you could say he is absolutely discriminated against, with no system or treatment facility which can accomodate his needs.<br /><br />Also my discussion of the office building, where stairs function for able bodied people the way a chair functions for you is a statement for myself to achieve more focus on the idea of "altered ability". <br /><br />One day perhaps technology will have advanced so far that a child like my son, where lurks a human being capable of love and many more things, will be able to interact with the world and have his status upgraded to that of "cripple".<br /><br />The extra weight I awarded you, by the way, was an accommodation for the amount of gumption that I believe you possess.<br />Best wishes for health in 2011Eric Fischerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02471331868560587898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post-6517538415356429062011-01-03T23:41:50.942+02:002011-01-03T23:41:50.942+02:00I have just posted an entry on my blog Bad Cripple...I have just posted an entry on my blog Bad Cripple where I address your question. I short, I prefer the word cripple to describe myself.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post-40526635935713728612011-01-03T15:10:57.980+02:002011-01-03T15:10:57.980+02:00I suppose that's Phil's point Seth's m...I suppose that's Phil's point Seth's mum; that the words have changed but little else. I wrote a post ages ago about how doctor's love a diagnosis so that they can see it instead of the patient in front of them *hairs bristling of certain doctors*. To me a word is just a word in that it is not the thing itself; relating, putting into action your beliefs, sees the meaning of the words come to life, as is the case in discrimination.<br />Definitely I want to see perceptions change but their is a much greater underlying problem: openness. No one wants to communicate in the true sense of exchange. Who listens anymore? But instead of doing something with themselves people are closing themselves off. Positive communication is a rarity.Eric Fischerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02471331868560587898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post-14354758529818928342011-01-03T13:18:35.762+02:002011-01-03T13:18:35.762+02:00Words do have some power and I do prefer to use th...Words do have some power and I do prefer to use the term 'additional needs' over 'special needs' because it feels more positive but I have to agree that its the perception that needs to change more than the words we use; 'retard' needed to change because of the perception attached to it but has the perception changed?Seth's mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12387237185645106245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post-38072511343209561062011-01-03T10:46:01.062+02:002011-01-03T10:46:01.062+02:00No, Phil you are a man of tremendous faith. Faith ...No, Phil you are a man of tremendous faith. Faith in your son and that the process of asserting dignity and cherishing life is one of the highest aims of our evlolution.<br />Of course I am not implying that a new name gives new perceptions-just that sometimes a new look, as an evolutionary step, can nudge things in a particular direction. Sadly, change happens when it is ready and not because of "public service announcements"-however justified, like mine.<br />I hope my description of how us able bodied people also use assistive technology (stairs) will help me to focus my thinking for future endeavors because in the realm of disability I am a beginner. After all since my son is close to being absolutely disabled, talk of stairs seems almost absurd. But I understand that perceptions can be changed, just that, as pioneers in presenting these hard conditions, we won't likely see much return in our life time.Eric Fischerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02471331868560587898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post-28137893451402999172011-01-03T05:12:59.581+02:002011-01-03T05:12:59.581+02:00But Phil, your dog doesn't have wings??But Phil, your dog doesn't have wings??Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13070297384173508509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000267568708943345.post-23793771125250615252011-01-03T01:53:41.383+02:002011-01-03T01:53:41.383+02:00Ok, my friend, allow me to weigh in with some thou...Ok, my friend, allow me to weigh in with some thoughts, but no vote on a new word. We've lived this world of words and labels for many years, both of us. What I have seen in the US is that every time a new descriptor is created, the population attributes a pejorative meaning to it because they have a need to appear to be superior to the other person who has just gotten a new name.<br /> I was in a statewide "disabilities" advocacy group which fought the legislature for 10 years to change the name of the Department of Mental Retardation to the Department of Developmental Services. Name changed, perception of clients did not...was president of the Arc (Association of Retard Citizens) and we changed the name of the advocacy group to simply Arc a number of years ago. Name changed, perception of clients did not.<br /> So what is called for is a societal shift that ensures the "differabled" are perceived as human beings with much value and worth no matter if they are a bit differabled or a lot differabled. The big world needs to see our kids as important, as valuable, as capable of loving and being loved, etc. There needs to be an evolution of consciousness and that is only possible when people let go of stereotypes, illusory perceptions, their needs to be superior to someone, etc. Much as it kills me to say this, in the scheme of evolution of human consciousness, dogs having wings will probably occur before all humans being perceived as equally important and valuable.<br /> Sorry for being so snarly and pessimistic. It wasn't a few years ago, after my son's accident, when the college president and a member of the board of trustees sat in our house because they were planning a fundraiser (Adam's accident was at a college summer camp) for him. They knew that Adam's allopathic diagnosis was persistent vegetative state and the woman said, "My, he doesn't look like a vegetable!" Having to restrain my hands from her throat, all I could say was "And you, madam, don't look like an asshole either." Obviously, they never had the fundraiser.<br /> Unfortunately, only a handful of us parents and care-takers have a clue about what you are asking for...a change of label or an embrace by others of the dignity of those we love. Sorry for the rant...this topic makes me homicidal. Them again, maybe, I am just a man of little faith.Phil Dzialohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04150881545903849250noreply@blogger.com