Comments on: The "R" word http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/2408/the-r-word/ Support. Insight. Inspiration Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:52:51 -0400 hourly 1 By: Kristy http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/2408/the-r-word/#comment-233340 Kristy Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:59:19 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=2408#comment-233340 I was in situation a few years ago at church Christmas play for children when Santa Claus was repeatedly called the R word. Our son, who is non-verbal, physically and mentally handicapped, understood the word and kept signing to go home. While I later told our pastor about it, I never received an apology form anyone. I was in situation a few years ago at church Christmas play for children when Santa Claus was repeatedly called the R word.

Our son, who is non-verbal, physically and mentally handicapped, understood the word and kept signing to go home.

While I later told our pastor about it, I never received an apology form anyone.

]]> By: Carrie http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/2408/the-r-word/#comment-233219 Carrie Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:55:28 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=2408#comment-233219 This is great. Here is a great clip from a celebrity about his experience, his son and that word. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7dyueB1C88 This is great.
Here is a great clip from a celebrity about his experience, his son and that word.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7dyueB1C88

]]> By: staying afloat http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/2408/the-r-word/#comment-232864 staying afloat Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:56:40 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=2408#comment-232864 I think people have just gotten it into their vocabulary- we used it for everything when I was younger. It's sort of a generic insult, like, "Idiot" or "Are you crazy?" This week I drove a carpool of very nice elementary and middle school aged boys, and one of them said that a basketball game he played was so unfair it was retarded. I broke in and asked if he knew what that meant, and another boy had to tell him it meant slow, which was obviously not what he meant. So I think it's a matter of education, really. Because the people who say it have no idea of the wallop it packs. I do wonder often if it's better for our autistic kids to be aware of how they're viewed or not, because upping their social skills can often bring on awareness they're not ready for. I think people have just gotten it into their vocabulary- we used it for everything when I was younger. It's sort of a generic insult, like, "Idiot" or "Are you crazy?" This week I drove a carpool of very nice elementary and middle school aged boys, and one of them said that a basketball game he played was so unfair it was retarded. I broke in and asked if he knew what that meant, and another boy had to tell him it meant slow, which was obviously not what he meant. So I think it's a matter of education, really. Because the people who say it have no idea of the wallop it packs.

I do wonder often if it's better for our autistic kids to be aware of how they're viewed or not, because upping their social skills can often bring on awareness they're not ready for.

]]> By: Marie http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/2408/the-r-word/#comment-232840 Marie Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:33:15 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=2408#comment-232840 Some people are just mean. There was no reason to say such a thing to anyone. The guy probably did not even realize Matthew has a "special need" when he said. It was just meanness that would have spilled over to anybody. Glad Matthew has love surrounding him and wish that other guy could find someone to love him. <--I guess maybe that was a little mean but that guy was rude! Hope his mother forgives me too if she sees this. Some people are just mean. There was no reason to say such a thing to anyone. The guy probably did not even realize Matthew has a "special need" when he said. It was just meanness that would have spilled over to anybody. Glad Matthew has love surrounding him and wish that other guy could find someone to love him. <–I guess maybe that was a little mean but that guy was rude! Hope his mother forgives me too if she sees this.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/2408/the-r-word/#comment-232833 Michelle Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:53:05 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=2408#comment-232833 Forgiveness is something that I struggle with often. It's very difficult to see my child be hurt like this and not be angry. But I still try to forgive. Glad Matthew got his CD's!! Forgiveness is something that I struggle with often. It's very difficult to see my child be hurt like this and not be angry. But I still try to forgive.

Glad Matthew got his CD's!!

]]> By: MamaSkates http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/2408/the-r-word/#comment-232832 MamaSkates Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:51:27 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=2408#comment-232832 oh, how i hate that word! i was so happy 2 see this movement earlier in the year... http://www.r-word.org/ that word is used so nonchalantly by people these days - they don't even realize how hurtful it can be! oh, how i hate that word! i was so happy 2 see this movement earlier in the year…
http://www.r-word.org/
that word is used so nonchalantly by people these days – they don't even realize how hurtful it can be!

]]> By: Lisa http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/2408/the-r-word/#comment-232829 Lisa Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:45:21 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=2408#comment-232829 Awww...that's sad though. Forgiveness is good. I sure wish I was as forgiving. God bless your Mathew..He sounds like such a sweet boy. Awww…that's sad though. Forgiveness is good. I sure wish I was as forgiving.
God bless your Mathew..He sounds like such a sweet boy.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/2408/the-r-word/#comment-232824 Barbara Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:17:49 +0000 http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com/?p=2408#comment-232824 Forgiveness. Yes. Forgiveness. Yes.

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