I have two nieces who are 'special needs' - so believe me the story hurt - one of them is so innocent and will never grow up.

At the time of writing I was upset and fuming at the same time. 'handicapped' sort of came to mind. I don't think the point you make is valid really - bit P.C. of you but never mind eh?

PC? No, not quite! I have a physically disabled cousin and some close family friends have a mentally disabled daughter. I PERSONALLY find the phrase 'handicapped' offensive!!!!!

PC? My arse....it's an offensive and VERY out of date piece of terminology, generally used by un-educated and/ or ignorant people!

ooh and god forbid someone offends you
lighten up mate, handicapped is a phrase that is used even by Medical staff! Whether it is PC or not, its a fact !!! Why do you feel the need to jump on the OP for using it like that! There is bound to be endless threads with words or things that people may not like, but to come back with that attitute is a bit much !

what I love about here is people just say what they mean...on the news this bloke said I hope they jail the little bastards and the inmates get a hold of them......well said IMO

I also have a cousin who has cerebral palsy - I am NOT ignorant NOR uneducated and my cousin is handicapped. How can that one word be offensive
And why on earth would you be offended

I agree - I worked here at a special needs school and the children were termed as being 'handicapped' or disabled.

I think any word can be taken the wrong way - but only if a word is used in a derogatory fashion then should it be taken that way. I think it is about time sensible adults learned to realise this and stop taking offence so easily.

Not taking anything away from the severity of the crime but in my mind it is almost irrelevant that the child concerned has a disability. It was an absolutely horrific thing for a group of supposed human beings to do to another human being so let's stop the inhouse bitching about who has a more disabled relative than the other please

I know that you're upset, but be careful what you post. That could be classed as incitement to violence.

Oh come on!

I suppose you mean that you have a "less abled cousin" and the friends have a "differently intellectually abled" daughter. *Your* terminology might offend others.

Yours in ignorance <g>. (It's not a laughing matter but you do need to think through the PC inferences.)

If I remember from my PC training it should be:

Cousin with disabilities

Daughter with learning difficulties

Calling someone disabled / handicapped should be avoided because it's labelling the whole person as 'defective'. Their legs, for example, might have impaired mobility but the rest of the person works fine. Probably doesn't mean much to you if you don't have physical or mental disabilities, but I've found it to be important to those who do (my ex has muscular dystrophy and difficulties walking).

I wear glasses, I wouldn't want to be called a 'short sighted person', prefer to be called 'a person wearing glasses' (if anyone has to point it out at all!) or 'a person who's short sighted'. Semantics, yes, but self-esteem/image issues are big things with people with disabilities.

Oh please, dont tell me someone actually teaches that stuff !!!!
As i said earlier, Medical staff will refer to someone as having a handicap, it is certainly NOT meant in a derogatory fashion, it simply refers to that person being unfortunate to have some form of disability.
And with regards to a person wearing glasses, most people would say that you wear glasses, who would know if you were short sighted, long sighted or whatever, most people wouldn't even notice ! Some people just like making an issue of it for the sake of it.

Watching "Today Tonight" is incitement to violence ...

here

An article from a disabled persons point of view.

So If disabled/handicapped should be avoided why does the UK Government pay disability?



Why don't they call it something else?

Thanks for that Russ.....interesting to hear *disabled* (my preffered terminology) persons views!