[senco-forum] A call for thoughts: headings

being fully compensated; I refer to myself as having dyslexia not 'being'

I agree with all you say, Alice.  I have coeliac disease; at a push I will
refer to myself as "coeliac", never as "a coeliac".  Similarly, I know
people who "have diabetes" or "are diabetic", but will not put the "a " in
front.  In both instances, saying "a coeliac/a diabetic" defines us by an
illness that we have, ignoring the fact that we are essentially far more
than something that has gone wrong with part of our bodies.

I, too, dislike the use of diagnosis, symptoms, suffer from etc when
speaking of dyslexia or any other specific difficulty.  They are not
illnesses, therefore cannot be diagnosed and treated with a view to curing
the ailment.

Regards,

Jean

S Wales

I have largely compensated for my dyslexia and am often referred to as
> being fully compensated; I refer to myself as having dyslexia not 'being'
> dyslexic - I have always refused to allow my learning difficulty to
> dominate my person, as I am many things to many folk - I am mother, wife
> of, teacher but most importantly I am me, Alice. When I work with parents
> in my role as Advisory Teacher for VI I relate to the learners I work
> alongside, by name not their eye condition - they just happen to have x,
> y, z, and lets do our best to rid ourselves of terms like diagnosis,
> afflicted, suffer etc. Just a personal reflection.
>   Regards to all
>
> Mike Boyd <mike at green43.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>   On 03/08/07 11:20, "Vikki Horner" wrote:
>
>> As a parent who has had to deal with labels in disability since the
>> birth of
>> my daughter who has Down syndrome, I find referring to individuals
>> simply by
>> label is distasteful. She's a Downs, Down syndrome people and so forth.
>> By
>> turning it around ...people/children/individuals with Down syndrome.....
>> allows them to be people first who happen to have ....whatever.....
>
>> Your headers for 4, 5, and 6 in my view amount to the same.
>> Chapter 4: The Dyslexic writes.
>> Chapter 5: The Dyslexic counts.
>> Chapter 6: The Dyslexic understands.
>> What about ....Individuals/pupils/people with Dyslexia count..... ?
>
>> Over the past 16 years, my experience, other parents, and those of
>> individuals who have a particular disability or difficulty do actually
>> find
>> labelling in this way offensive. Although I can understand that it is
>> easier and more expedient to use to describe a particular condition.
>
> I am also a parent with label experience. One of my sons has significant
> learning and communication difficulties. He also has Down's Syndrome.
> If appropriate to the conversation, that is the way I tend to describe
> him.
>
> Most of Matthew's characteristics are to do with his individuality, his
> 'Matthew-ness' if you like. Only a few are to do with his genetic
> condition.
>
> I'm with Vikki here. People first language please.
> Hopefully there is people first thinking and attitude going on out there
> too, but we only hear the language of others.
>
>
> On 03/08/07 15:00, "John Bergin" wrote:
>
>> Gently and with much respect
>> Vikki, I find your statement
>> distasteful and very worrying.
> John, Vikki made several statements, all quite reasonable in my opinion.
> I don't know which one (or ones) you found difficulties within. Perhaps
> you
> could explain?
>
>> I am a late diagnosed adult dyslexic.
>> One not "with" anything.
>
>> Lots of us lots
>> of the time don't even "suffer". Eh,
>> we'd be "without" then, wouldn't we?
>
>> Sorry but you see my point?
> Assuming that the point is nothing at all to do with the language of
> extreme
> irony or sarcasm, I'm sorry John, but I find myself unable to see your
> point.
>
>
> Regards, Mike
> --
> Mike Boyd
>
>
>
>
>
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