Dear Editor,
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today.
I am a mother of a child with Autism and an advocate for all individuals and families of children with disabilities.
I was appalled recently by an incident that was brought to my attention which happened at a local health department.
Apparently, an employee referred to my son as being retarded.
First of all, the law has been passed called Rosa’s Law that eliminates the ‘R’ word and replaces it with Intellectually Challenged.
We cannot expect the general public to know about this change but I do expect an employee working in the health field to be educated and to respect an individual’s wright to not be degraded by the use of such a word.
Unfortunantly we hear this word being used on the radio, all across facebook, and by the public every day.
Our children are personally effected by these labels every day they do understand more that we realize they do!
My suggestion to our local health department and others working with the public is that they should educate their employees of ‘peson first’ language.
We are all individuals first.
Cordially,
Jackie Wheatley
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
I'm sorry you and your son had to hear that. There are way too many ignorant people in the world. I would expect that kind of behavior from other kids, but from an adult makes it even worse! My son has Autism as well and starts preschool soon. I worry so much that other kids are going to make fun of him.
ReplyDeleteI agree Jackie, my daughter has mental health issues and has been called many names by other children. The r word, psycho, she was even once told to "go commit suicide", no compassion or understanding in the world anymore. Just because your different doesnt mean you are abnormal.
ReplyDeleteIt should be noted this happened in Worcester County.
ReplyDeleteNo, I think she lives in Somerset County.
ReplyDeleteWhat branch in Worcester County? Snow Hill or Berlin?
ReplyDeleteWith so many people out here looking for jobs this individual should be fired! As someone who is certified in special education there is a difference between autism and mental retardation. Jackie I also detest when people use the word "retarded". I used to work in a Life Skills classroom with students that were classified as M.R and they would hear other students using that word. Many would get very upset and tell me that was a bad word. In other words, their feelings were hurt.
ReplyDeleteIt happened in Worcester County but the individual lives in Somerset County....Just setting things straight....
ReplyDeleteThere truly are people in this world who have no idea what it is like to have a child who is labeled with any kind of disability. No one should cast stones or speak like this until they have definitely experienced this first hand. I give a lot of credit to Jackie Wheatley for all she does for her Challengers and her own son. Her son is very special and has experienced enough in his lifetime. He has been through many hurdles in his life and has made out very well with most of them. He truly loves his mother and his her protector. People need to see the good in all of these kids. They are not here by choice, they were put here for a reason and people need to learn from these individuals. They truly have a special place in my heart and always will. Very well said Jackie...
ReplyDeleteWasn't Rosa's Law only passed to prevent schools from referencing students as mentally or physically retarded?
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame the parent and or child felt offended by the term, but really your child is so much more than a stereo type or "name". There has to be a time in life to rise above any insults or shallow attempts of offense. We will all be called something that is less than pleasing but we all have to learn how to see we are all worth more than what words insinuate.
Thats inexcusable for someone in the public health field....its bad enough when less educated persons do it.People automatically make assumptions about the mentally impaired,but their feelings can be hurt too.When I encounter them,I am always sure to give them a smile or say "hello" because I know alot of others arent kind and it is sad because the disabled are people first and foremost.
ReplyDeletethere is more to this story than being told by the writer look deeper had nothing to do with her son actually a cat fight over a man
ReplyDeleteLike the above person put, people need to read deeper into the writer. This is all about a woman who's man left her for the woman she is trying to slander on this website. She has tried everything even making comments on Facebook. How childish is that!! Come on now grow up!!! Teenagers don't act like this over boyfriends or girlfriends. Just a bitter woman who can't move on in life. Very Sad!
ReplyDeleteI did not read a thing about a woman or a man so who is doing the slandering? This story is about ignorance which you seem to be portraying. Don't try to send up a smoke screen to hide the truth that we as individuals need to be accountable for our actions towards others in this community. If you read Rosa's law was not passed just for education. Lets learn something from this not try to hurt the family further.
ReplyDeletethe writer is a good friend of mine and this is not about a man who left her this about people talking about her child who is a innocent victim who is the childish one here when you have to talk about a autistic child she is a great advocate and someone step over the line
ReplyDeleteDidn't the writer say she was told this in the above letter? How does she know that this was really said by that person or is or just hear say? There are always 3 sides of the story, the writers, the one the writer is talking about in the above letter and the TRUTH!!!!!
ReplyDelete