A lot of talk has been made about not tolerating the use of "retard" and "retarded" as derogatory slang. It's easy - or at least easyish - to confront someone on their use of the R-word(s) when it's a peer, someone subordinate in some way (as an adult to a child), or a stranger. But how should the situation be properly and constructively dealt with when the offender is a superior, or someone in an authority position (as a boss, for instance)?
I'm very curious what you, my Ds blogging friends, have to say about this.
Adieu
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After more than two years and 555 posts (556 counting this one!), I'm
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6 comments:
I think you can say what ever you have to say to anybody in a friendly way!....I don´t always have the guts to do that, but I am trying to.
Christine & Joshua
(from Germany, so I hope mistaces are excused)
I don't have DS but have pulled up people (even a boss)m on the use of the word. I handled it much the same way I did with everybody else.
I'm not very good at this with anyone. It happened tonight at dinner. We went out with a huge group of friends and I got into a conversation with the girl I was sitting next to about wanting to exercise but always getting nervous about trying a class for the first time and not being able to do the stuff. She said, "Yah everybody looks like a r*tard the first time. Don't worry about it." I just shook my head in agreement knowing that Gavin heard the word as loud and clear as I did. It's such a fine line and I'm not good at knowing when to say something and when not to.
I would hope that I would handle it in the same way as I would anyone else....as a mom of a child where that word hurts and is offensive. I love Hector's quick and easy way of dealing with it when he hears it from anyone..."We don't use that word around my family"...it's personal, it's succinct, it does the trick! I will ask him if he would have the "guts" to say this to his boss or someone in a more superior position to his own!
I've dealt with this a lot lately, too. Not from a superior but younger friends & family who just weren't thinking. I know talking with a boss wouldn't be as easy as setting the record straight with young adults, but I think something should be said. I have found that often people don't even realize what they said or how it made me feel.
I have a 7 mo old boy with an extra chromosome & really enjoyed reading several of your posts today. My blog is http://secondtimearound-vernyvern.blogspot.com/
BTW I often think to myself that speaking up for our kiddos and others with special needs is the new civil rights movement.
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