"Differently-abled" ??

nicoleversion2

Is this the new, more politically correct way of saying disabled?  I just got an email from Toys R Us and they have a new 2011 toy guide for "differently-abled" kids.  I'm not sure if its their terminology or if I'm just a bit out of the loop.  Just wondering.

nicolita14w

Just got the email. too. Not sure how many of the toys are actually effective at promoting the skills they claim to, but I like the concept.

And yes, I have heard the term "differently-abled" over the last few years.

jenber77

I have heard it used that way before, but I don't know if it's the most widely used or accepted term.

krissyh21

If you are out of the loop, then so am I. I did look it up and I guess it is the politically correct term

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LVBlvd

I just remember it from the movie "Saved."  Mandy Moore tells Macauly Culkin (spelling) to not make people uncomfortable by his differently abled-ness.  

alchris

As a former teacher of students with severe special needs, I can tell you that in fact my students were differently abled.  "Dis"abled in some ways, but totally not in many others.  And in a way, aren't we all differently abled?  I think it's a great way of summarizing the diversity we all have in so many areas in life.  As moms, I think we can all see where our children are a bit ahead of the game in some ways and a bit behind the game in others...not good or bad, not all or nothing, just unique and different.

krissyh21

alchris:

As a former teacher of students with severe special needs, I can tell you that in fact my students were differently abled.  "Dis"abled in some ways, but totally not in many others.  And in a way, aren't we all differently abled?  I think it's a great way of summarizing the diversity we all have in so many areas in life.  As moms, I think we can all see where our children are a bit ahead of the game in some ways and a bit behind the game in others...not good or bad, not all or nothing, just unique and different.

I total agree that people with handicaps are still able to overcome and are able to dothings in many different ways. I have just not hear of this particular term before.

nicolita14w

alchris:

As a former teacher of students with severe special needs, I can tell you that in fact my students were differently abled.  "Dis"abled in some ways, but totally not in many others.  And in a way, aren't we all differently abled?  I think it's a great way of summarizing the diversity we all have in so many areas in life.  As moms, I think we can all see where our children are a bit ahead of the game in some ways and a bit behind the game in others...not good or bad, not all or nothing, just unique and different.

 

alchris

krissyh21:

alchris:

As a former teacher of students with severe special needs, I can tell you that in fact my students were differently abled.  "Dis"abled in some ways, but totally not in many others.  And in a way, aren't we all differently abled?  I think it's a great way of summarizing the diversity we all have in so many areas in life.  As moms, I think we can all see where our children are a bit ahead of the game in some ways and a bit behind the game in others...not good or bad, not all or nothing, just unique and different.

I total agree that people with handicaps are still able to overcome and are able to dothings in many different ways. I have just not hear of this particular term before.

I don't recall if I had heard the term or if I just started saying it on my own years ago.  I can't stand the term disabled since it implies that what someone can't do well either defines who they are or that the disability is pervasive.  They have a disability in XYZ area but they are not "disabled" as a person, if the distinction makes sense.  To me differently abled summarizes that they just have different abilities than is the presumed norm.

mrsolsenk12

alchris:

krissyh21:

alchris:

As a former teacher of students with severe special needs, I can tell you that in fact my students were differently abled.  "Dis"abled in some ways, but totally not in many others.  And in a way, aren't we all differently abled?  I think it's a great way of summarizing the diversity we all have in so many areas in life.  As moms, I think we can all see where our children are a bit ahead of the game in some ways and a bit behind the game in others...not good or bad, not all or nothing, just unique and different.

I total agree that people with handicaps are still able to overcome and are able to dothings in many different ways. I have just not hear of this particular term before.

Agreed! Well put.

I don't recall if I had heard the term or if I just started saying it on my own years ago.  I can't stand the term disabled since it implies that what someone can't do well either defines who they are or that the disability is pervasive.  They have a disability in XYZ area but they are not "disabled" as a person, if the distinction makes sense.  To me differently abled summarizes that they just have different abilities than is the norm.

kme930

alchris:

krissyh21:

alchris:

As a former teacher of students with severe special needs, I can tell you that in fact my students were differently abled.  "Dis"abled in some ways, but totally not in many others.  And in a way, aren't we all differently abled?  I think it's a great way of summarizing the diversity we all have in so many areas in life.  As moms, I think we can all see where our children are a bit ahead of the game in some ways and a bit behind the game in others...not good or bad, not all or nothing, just unique and different.

I total agree that people with handicaps are still able to overcome and are able to dothings in many different ways. I have just not hear of this particular term before.

I don't recall if I had heard the term or if I just started saying it on my own years ago.  I can't stand the term disabled since it implies that what someone can't do well either defines who they are or that the disability is pervasive.  They have a disability in XYZ area but they are not "disabled" as a person, if the distinction makes sense.  To me differently abled summarizes that they just have different abilities than is the presumed norm.

alchris - you should work with MH! (He works at a charity focused on people with disabilities - the other PC way to say it.)