People with intellectual disabilities deserve the same respect that you and I, as "normal" people, deserve. We are all human, individual beings created in God's image. We all deserve respect and love and faith.
I read this article on The Review's website (the newspaper for University of Delaware. I guarantee you will tear up at it, as I did. Here is the link.
I took the pledge to never say the R word again. The R (retarded) is a demeaning, horrible word akin to the N word for African Americans and the F word for homosexuals. But everyday, people throw this word around- in a joking manner, in a disrespectful manner, in an ignorant manner. They don't know the hurt that comes with this word, the horrible feeling that eats up a person when someone tosses it around like it's a baseball. And it's not just the person with the intellectual disability, it's also their families, their friends that are hurt as well.
Take the pledge to respect all humans the same. Take the pledge to remove this word from your vocabulary, and to start using people first language. People first language is where you define the person by what they are, not what they have. Instead of saying "autistic child", say "little boy who has autism". Instead of saying "crippled woman" say "the lady in the wheelchair". The person is not the disability, whether intellectual or physical, so don't talk like they are only their disability.
You can take the pledge at http://www.r-word.org/. Then, invite your friends to take the pledge. Make a conscious effort to remove this word from your language, and your family and friends' as well.
While there, grab the button to put on your blog and show that you took the pledge. Be proud of it.
What else can you do? Get involved. There are so many organizations- Autism Delaware, DFRC Blue-Gold Football Game, Variety, Easter Seals, Chimes- and they all welcome volunteers. You can also look into being a buddy or therapy assistant for a child with a disability.
Being a disability minor, I get emails from the school about different parents looking for help with their child- it may be a day buddy where you take them out and have fun to help them learn social skills, it may be watching them after school until mom gets home, it may be a therapy assistant.
I got this email from one mom looking for a therapy assistant for her son who has Autism. Devin has severe Autism and is non verbal, and when I met him he was not potty trained. Shannon is a mom with a mission- she is totally dedicated to her son and daughter, and works tirelessly trying to find any way possible to help her son. When Devin was diagnosed, she packed up her family and moved to Delaware from Colorado, because of the Delaware Autism Program. Talk about a lioness protecting her cub- she reminded me of my mom when we were going through the divorce, doing whatever had to be done to make sure her kids were taken care of.
I applied for the job, and was immediately impressed by what she had done. Shannon had learned ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis; the only accepted form of treatment for Autism) from a professional, then hired students from UD to help with his therapy. She had turned their whole basement into a work zone for Devin to learn in. Every day, after school, Devin would work with his mom and one assistant for 2.5 hours. And the learning didn't end there- whenever there was an opportunity, Shannon used it to help Devin. She even went back to school to get another degree in ABA.
I worked with Devin for a year, until unfortunately I couldn't work because of my leg and RSD. But by that point, Shannon, Fah-Pow, Sheenie, and Devin had become not just friends but family. When Brian and I got engaged, we knew right away we wanted Devin to be our ringbearer. When we asked Shannon, there were tears all around. We didn't care that there might be a tantrum if he didn't want to walk, or didn't want to wear the tux. We didn't care that he might stop in the middle of the aisle to lay down and play with his train Ring Pillow (we did a ring train instead of a pillow, since he loves trains, and gave it to him as a gift!). Meg offered to walk down the aisle with him, and there were more tears when we told her that Meg was giving up walking in the special spot of Maid of Honor to help Devin. He ended up walking down the aisle in his dad's arms, holding the train and the cloth he loves, and we couldn't have been happier.
If I hadn't responded to that job call, I would have never made new family members. I cannot tell you how much Brian and I treasure the memories we have made with Devin and his family. I cannot count the number of gloomy days that were immediately cheered up by his bright precocious smile. I am so thankful to God for sending this family into my life.
Because of Devin, and because of my niece who was recently diagnosed with mild Autism, I fight. I pledge to make a difference by never using the R word again.
Have you taken the pledge?
