Finally! Can we now, *please,* change our language to match the truth?!!!

[capri0mni]

So. For months, now, I've had this C.P.-related design idea for a Zazzle Tee-shirt/mug/whatever that, today, sent me searching for images of infant brains showing C.P.. And that led to reading paragraphs around the images. And just now, I found the following (from a site aimed at medical people, based on the vocabulary):

(Quote) Approximately 30-50% of patients with cerebral palsy have mental retardation, depending on the type.[6, 7] However, because of oromotor, fine motor, and gross motor difficulties, communication in these patients may be impaired and expression of intellectual capacity may be limited. However, if cerebral palsy is approached in a multidisciplinary manner, with physical, occupational, and nutritional therapy to maximize rehabilitative efforts, patients can be more fully integrated academically and socially* (Unquote)

[Emphasis my own.]

This is what I have been saying for 20-something years, now. But if that second sentence is true, then the first sentence is false. Let me try to fix it:

Approximately 30-50% of people with cerebral palsy may not have been given full educational opportunities, and are thus classified as mentally retarded.

There! That's better!

From Medicine-Science: Cerebral Palsy (Posted by admin, August 6, 2011)

Comments

[spiralsheep]

Lack of appropriate stimulation = lack of development!!1!! OMDog what a stunning revelation!!1!!

warning: descriptions of emotional violence against pwd

[capri0mni]

Or even, as my experience, the kids with CP who have trouble communicating, have near normal mental development, but are treated as retarded, regardless

I've witnessed camp counselors comment out loud: "Oh, look, she's having a bowel movement," to another counselor at the communal dinner table, while helping the person eat. ...And then, when this kid displayed signs of anger, write it off because she's "retarded." And this particular peer of mine at summer camp routinely had her arms strapped down to the arms of her wheelchair.

So, yeah. This CP = retardation I continually see quoted by doctors strikes a nerve.

Re: warning: descriptions of emotional violence against pwd

[spiralsheep]

::nods understanding::

I went to a new-at-the-time primary (ages 4-11 ish) school with a fully integrated deaf unit for very deaf children, including deaf children with a variety of additional challenges. The one and only child who couldn't integrate into the mainstream school, during my whole time there, had been neglected and abused (it was strongly implied to us) as a young child in addition to having multiple disabilities, and his "unacceptable" behaviour mostly consisted of occasionally screaming so loudly that we hearing kids couldn't cope with it (I genuinely believe that he didn't understand his screaming caused us physical distress and that it was an attempt to communicate despite his frustrations).

Having seen possibilities at their best, I've never rly been prepared to accept my society settling for anything less.

Re: warning: descriptions of emotional violence against pwd

[capri0mni]

In my experience, I've never seen expressions of rage and/or frustrations "erupt out of nowhere" when people are treated in a way that's appropriate for them. ... even when that person really is "profoundly retarded."

So using that label as an excuse to dismiss or ignore displays of rage just make me feel sad and kind of sick.