Julie Stauffer

<<define disabled>>

I used the term disabled because we are talking about so called "Learning
Disabilities", to say someone has a disability pretty much describes them as
disabled.

But if you are going to say, "Hey, this worked for some people. Want to try
it?" Why is it necessary to describe the person as disabled to do that?

Julie

Bridget

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Julie Stauffer" <jnjstau@g...> wrote:

> But if you are going to say, "Hey, this worked for some people.
Want to try
> it?" Why is it necessary to describe the person as disabled to do
that?
>
> Julie

It's not and that's my point. In the effort to avoid the labels some
of you seem to be advocating avoiding the help available too.

Bridget

Lynda

Why is it so hard for some folks to understand that you can have a
disability but not be disabled. That knowledge is power and knowing what
that disability is and how you can fix it is a freeing thing.

My dad had the ear drum in one ear blown to smithereens when a shell
exploded in a gun on his ship during the Korean War. Blood running out of
the ear, the whole nine yards. This is a severe disability as it affects
not only hearing but speaking and balance. He is NOT disabled. He
researched everything about this disability and even went on to being in the
Naval reserves special skin diving forces for 20 years, something that
supposedly you can't do without the eardrum for balance, etc. He sits with
his good ear toward speakers, televisions, etc. He has learned to
compensate and has his own method of balance. He was a tree topper when he
first got home from the war. He then became a pole climber for P.G & E. He
still rides motorcycles at the age of 75. He has a disability, he is NOT
disabled because he found solutions and doesn't allow it to limit him.

I have a son who is both ADHD and dyslexic. When he was very young, I
investigated ways to help him and found that diet and freedom to be him
worked for him as far as the hyperactivity were concerned. When he was a
little older we had long discussions and spent a lot of time at the library
(no internet back in the dark ages) looking up resources so that he could
make an informed decision about Ritalin vs. diet, meditation, behavior
modification and other things that help. He choose diet and learned to
recognize signals and "modify his behavior" patterns. When his problems
with "letters that don't act right" bothered him, we (yes WE) found a PhD
who worked with kids that had what he called "obsticles to overcome." We
were really lucky because he believed that all children are simply small
people and that all people are individuals. My son had input into all
phases of the plan "to make molehills out of mountains." My son has
disabilities but he is NOT disabled.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: Bridget <rumpleteasermom@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 6:27 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Disabled and Words thread


> --- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Julie Stauffer" <jnjstau@g...> wrote:
>
> > But if you are going to say, "Hey, this worked for some people.
> Want to try
> > it?" Why is it necessary to describe the person as disabled to do
> that?
> >
> > Julie
>
> It's not and that's my point. In the effort to avoid the labels some
> of you seem to be advocating avoiding the help available too.
>
> Bridget
>
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>