Retarded does NOT mean a horrible life!

I just thought it was my responsibility to inform everybody that being "retarded" does make you stupid, or live a horrible life.

I work with these type of people only I do not refer to them as "retarded" I refer to them as PEOPLE! They are special people with special needs yes. Some are in wheelchairs and are not verbal. Some are in wheelchairs that can speak. Some use sign language. In which is a recognized language. Some are on G-Tubes. That is a machine they insert into your stomach so they can get the nutrients they need because they can't eat by their mouth. Some of them like the girls I work with are Independent. They make there own food, do their own laundry, Take their own showers or baths. Some even have theire own drivers license. I just supervise them to make sure they are properly doing things. They laugh they know jokes; they are people like you and I. We take them on trips to like Niagara Falls; they drink alcohol like you I do. Some of my girls smoke cigarettes, as do I. Some even live at home with their parents or their guardian.

On the other hand some are not as capable. Some of them need assistance with their showers or going to the bathroom. Some need assistance for eating, and drinking. Yet, they know how to laugh, they know how to smile, and it really means something to them!

I've worked in a place where they needed such assistance, I had to do everything for them. It was a very hard job, but to see their smile made it all worth it!

They just have a slightly lower IQ, that doesn't make them bad people!

A person who has Parkinson’s disease shakes a lot, will end up in a wheelchair, a person with Lou Gehrigs Disease will end up having a perfectly normal mind but there body just shuts down, a person with Alzheimer’s will forget things, eventually there body shuts down. Are they retarded because they're not like you and I no. We often forget that everybody on this planet is unique and special in their own way. Is it up to me to judge who is perfect and who is not? Why so then do we label these people as dumb? I just don't understand, but I hope I have informed you just a little bit.

Thank You for writing that! That was beautiful. I wish more people would understand what it feels like to be labeld, and treated less than human by society. I love my uncle and he loves me, he does not know any less than pure love. If only the rest of the world even knew what the purest of love is maybe we would live in the peace of mind that sometimes these people feel.

Thanks for commenting Bob, I wasn't expecting any replys but your poem I hope opens peoples minds up.

:)

I agree with everything you said! This has so inspired me to write a poem about this issue...it is about time someonelike you has took a stand and tryed to wake people up..yes their are people who are retarded and i do call them that..not in a cruel way i might add...but thats their disease..and i wish people would realize all people who have some kind of thing wrong with them are just all humans! I back you up 110% ..great topic!!

K i gotta a little story;
Okie when i was in my first year of high school, we had to do volenteering at a seniors home, but it was for mentally disabled people, well anyways, we went and i came across the CUTEST little old man, everyone laughed at him because he couldnt talk, he typed with his toes and did everything with his toes. well anyways we had to choose who we wanted to be with and i didnt really care, but the little old man named terry wanted me to be his visitor. We talked, well he typed with his toes and i read what he was saying, and he would grab my hand and show me where to get coffee. Well our semester was up and that ment i didnt come to see him anymore, and i had to tell him, he was upset because he had told me that i was the first young person to not laugh at him or treat him different, he said he chose to have me as his visitor because outta the 30 teenagers he seen that i wasn't lauging at him nor talking about him, he had told me that people think he is deaf but he can hear, his boday is deformed but he is as normal as you and i. I made arrangments with my school to go and see him 2 times a week, and they offered to give me credits for still doing it, but i refused to take the credits it was only something i wanted to do because i felt i needed to show people something more.
Anyways every monday and friday i would go and see terry, and we would have conversations, his family never came to see him because he had told me he was ashamed, soon i started going everyday to see him, i would bring him cookies, and i would read to him and he even taught me how to type with my toes,...he told me a story that i will NEVER forget and i will always remember. When he was growing up the doctors told his parents he would never walk, terry learned how to walk on his own, the doctors told his parents he would never graduate high school, he did and he got a business degree in collge, he was such an inspiration to me, i will NEVER forget him, It really bugs me when i see people making fun of other with a condition because they are people, they are not animals, nor beasts they are as real as you and i....he said he was very proud of his accomplishment and he said that he hopes that one day people will see other with a condition mentally or physically the same, because they are capable of doing anything they wish. He was i beleive 50 yrs old, and he was such a inspiring person.
anyways i thought i would share this story
take care
scooby

Hmm interesting Jackie, I too worked for just over two years with people with severe mental and physcial disabilities, my focus why trying to find and maintain employment for them...
I could not agree with you more, however its the word RETARDED that is the problem here. Not only is derogatory but its disrespectable and extremely politically incorrect...the correct terms are defined in words and descriptions should be used as per the degree and actual disability the individual suffers from. Not in all my time working with these people would I ever think to offend them so greatly by using the word RETARDED or SPASTIC,a socially its and offensive word and is used in abuse/profanity. They are physically unable or restricted, mentally impaired (just as examples). The person suffers Parkinsons Disease or Scoliosis, or the correct medical term/name of disease. Thats just my opinion and the way we worked as an Australian Organisation serving people with disabilities NOT retards.
Great topic tho Jackie!
Regards Eirisa
PS: That poem was brilliant have you posted it?
Thanks!

Wow, I can't beilve how many people support what I said. I had mentioned to my mother If I only change one persons opinion that would well be worth everything.

I'm also thanksful that alot of us all agree on a topic for once! :)

Eirisa I couldn't have said it better myself

No I have no idea

very nicely said, Jacki!

My story is:

I was volunteering at a Special Olympics meet that my sister was participating in, and someone thought I was one of the athletes that was in the wrong place. They came up behind me to ask where I should be and when they saw my "volunteer" label, they said, "Oh, Sorry, you are normal." This shocked me, since most people that work in this setting don't use labels like that. Anyway, watching these kids compete was unlike any competition I had ever been in. They didn't care who crossed the line first, just that everyone crossed the line...

I love my sister more than words can say and wouldn't trade her for anyone!

The poems I've posted about her are: "Sister of an Angel" and "Unaware"

I feel the same way about my Uncle, I wish I had this poem My Aunt wrote about him. It was so beautiful it made me cry everytime I read it. I'll have to find it and post it up here so everyone can read it :)

I really never meant to insult you or to hurt your feelings. I feel ery sorry for special people because they are made fun of and their social lives are absolute hell. I understand what you are saying and I agree with you. But you can't tell me that when your uncle goes walking in the street and people stare at him or laugh or any other special person. I know what it is like to have a disability and I know what it is like to have people laugh at you. My disability isn't a huge one and doesnt show. But I don't wanna know how it must feel to have your disability show and then people laugh at you. It must feel terrible.

Sorry for insulting you

I agree bob! people are people not matter what they look like! We all have a mother and we all came from the same place.

One last thing bob, what did " the premac principle or fading and extinction" mean?