Handicapped Vs. Disabled Vs. Differing Abilities, which is better?

One of the newer fights in advocacy for individuals with differing abilities has been the language of handicapped, disabled, and trying to find another term recently. I've fought with multiabled, but it's confusing and sounds like people who are the status quo have only one ability, which is simply not the case, and I've thought about saying individuals with differing abilities and differently abled, which is what I'm starting to have as my language, depending on the situation. Obviously, you want people-first language at most costs- you would want someone to say "an individual with autism", "an individual whose blind", or "an individual whose in a wheelchair" for a few examples. But when it comes to language in this arena it's trickier- people have to use what works for them. I have many friends who have differing abilities, but I think disabled makes them "sub-human" and less likely to reach acceptance in this world where oppression and hate for these people groups is still rampant. So as a Leadership Studies minor and working towards a Public Relations certificate (after 12 credits, it's a done deal for that, I will have 7 credits elsewhere before I'm a Boise State graduate), I want to practice positive PR and say people with differing abilities or people that are differently abled. It's something that I picked up from a Special Olympics Rally that I went to on a day when I was in a newspaper story several years ago, but the point on my retired P.E. teachers shirt that one day still rings true today- "do not confuse disability with inability" and that's what many people tend to do. Even though, for example, I have autism, I am still able and willing to do just about anything that anyone else does or that my medication will allow for. I also see some other individuals who have differing abilities use so much power for good and change the world starting with their town. so I don't use disabled and encourage more people to switch to differing abilities. it sounds more correct and nicer. but never use handicap unless referring to a parking pass, which passes shouldn't hardly ever be used anyway. Handicap is an archaic term from the early 1900s and is an oppressive term that should never be used. it refers to the caps on people who have differing abilities that they used to put on them in other countries (or something to that effect), and it's a destructive term that needs to be eradicated. saying someone is handicapped is like saying someone is sub-human. I have autism and ADHD, but I will never be sub-human and never was. I don't look at myself as different, I look at myself as a human being. And the handicap term makes people like me seem less than ordinary. Thus ends the language section of this blog. I hope that you all learned something. have a great night.

The "R-Word" In Three Forms (Part 2 of the 3-part language series)

in the first part of the language series I talked about the loaded word of inspiration. that is a word of semi-serious implications for the autistic and community of people with differing abilities, however, the r-word, moron, and idiot are much greater and that is what I'm going to talk about here. I for one would like to see these words eradicated from our language entirely.
1) the "r-word" or "retarded" (for purposes of saying what it is, the rest of the column it will be referred to as the "r-word): the "r-word" says that when something is stupid, the person doing this has an IQ level of less than 70. that's what retardation is, a person with an IQ of less than 70 who is doing his best to adequately convey himself and adapt to society. I have lots of friends on this spectrum and they and I as a person with differing abilities would like this word eradicated. It makes people with low IQ levels feel sub-human and they have already suffered enough setbacks over the years. and using it as a substitute for stupid or anything of the sort doesn't work either. people who have differing abilities pick up on it easily.
2) moron: another form of the "r-word", just a lower level, moron refers to someone who has an IQ level of about 50-70. the word moron is used often as a substitute for stupid person and I would prefer to have it eradicated from language when referring to people who do stupid things. People do stupid things all the time. Many of them have college educations or further. IQ is meaningless when it comes to stupidity capacity or anything else. do not use it. avoid at all costs.
3) idiot: idiosyncratic isn't even a good word to use. eccentric is much better substitute for that. idiot is a word in similar vein to the "r-word", it just isn't used as often. people are ignorant, they are bigoted, and they are judgmental when they say idiotic things often. sometimes it is because of their religious biases why they are this way. I don't blame stupidity for having this term be used to describe many of these types of people. I blame not the right education. and Napoleon Dynamite. (for those who have never seen the movie or don't live in Idaho, you won't get that, but there it is.)
so I guess that language and verbalizing it correctly can be hard. educate, educate, educate. and advocate, advocate, advocate. that is the only way that you are going to make a difference in changing peoples perceptions of those who have differing abilities (including being a tool, I'm convinced that counts as one.) well, have a great night everyone. and remember, think before you speak.

Inspiration Is A Loaded Word For Autistics

I want to take a brief moment (OK, a blog moment) to talk about a word that is very loaded for people on the autism spectrum: inspiration. I do think that people who are autistic do inspiring things, but because there are so many people of varying spectrum functions (from non-verbal and dangerous to people who end their education in high school but still have spunk in them and strong advocacy skills to people who are teachers, have children, and drive to scientists and pro athletes to people in between all these types like me), inspiration is loaded. I don't think that it is necessary for people who know my story to say that I'm an inspiration because I've overcome a lot and done some inspiring things, but so has, say Temple Grandin and so has say on a completely different level than Temple people in my area who advocate for themselves and so has the autistic pro surfer. does any of my story or their story need comparison? I think not. While I like being called an inspiration in my faith, I think I'd rather be told that I say that I do inspiring things with my faith, because I don't want my faith to be thought of as more or less than anyone else because I worship aerobically or because I give smart answers or because I do good things. I want others to strive to do the same, because I think that with autism or with faith, it gets to be a personal battle and everyone is different in their own way. People can cheer for me at the end of races knowing my story a little bit all the want, but in life, I want to be known as Ian Bott: a somewhat normal guy with autism who has adequate skills and qualities in many regards. That would be great. Inspiration, especially with comparison of so many people, makes it loaded and for people on the spectrum is a word to be avoided because it's a diagnosis with way too many variables. Up next week: language part two- why now for the push for lessening ableistic language.

Support Me They Will- My Five Leading Men And Five Leading Women In My Life

At some moments in life, there are people who will stick with you through thick and thin. Family is sometimes the most important. Sometimes it's friends and sometimes it's people that are going to stick through in your life for years and years and never let you leave their own lives. Here are 5 male friends and 5 female friends that, no matter what will support me and stick through my own life and make it better (giving 2 sentence explanations why):
Male:
5) Cam- one of the most genuine, kindest people ever and a true friend since the beginning. He just radiates beyond athletic gifts, he has one of the kindest hearts I will ever know.
4) Randy- almost like a second Dad. He is willing to stick his neck out and share advice when I need it, give tough love, and show appreciation for what I will do.
3) Scott- for everything that we've been through, we are roommates and practically besties. That is hard to do, and we are still willing to share life together in a strong, civilized, greatly structured way.
2) Al- one of the more gentle people I will ever meet and a life-long friend. He is so kind and loving and I will always consider him one of the more gentle people in my life ever.
1) Jeff- no matter what, even when we get mad, it's only for a matter of hours. He is such a great friend that he will stick up for me even when it's at the expense of others and I will always consider him my best friend.
Female:
5) Carolyn- one of the kinder, wiser, gentler people you'll ever meet. She is such a strong individual and I'm beyond lucky to have her in my life and get reminded of that every time we see each other.
4) The Jennas- plural for Jenna Hunt and Jenna Duffin. They are my besties that I can consider as such at this point, and I have seen growth in them that is beyond incredible and have seen a few great friendships full of sarcasm blossom.
3) Tiffany- she is in Spain and she will still bat for me no matter what. That's how awesome she is and she is one of the more lucky people that I can ever imagine as one of my best friends.
2) Megan/Kristin- my sisters and they will always support me in their own ways. I think that the unconditional love they show is so strong and they will never stop loving me.
1) My Mom- she's my favorite person in the world. no other explanation is necessary.
There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of others that I feel are friends, and a good portion of those I'm close to. All of these people (with the exception of Cam and The Jennas and Tiffany) I have known for practically my whole life and they will be the backbone of who I am today. And there are plenty of those who I had to leave out. Someday I will make a list in my journal of my top 50 for both genders, but until that day comes, I had to limit it to the top 5.