From Vernon DeHaven of Aberdeen, MD:
Dear Editor:
Words matter. That’s why The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region (The Arc NCR) is helping me respectfully challenge our community to think about the words they use when it comes to addressing or referencing people with disabilities.
My name is Vernon, and I live in Harford County, Maryland. I have received services from The Arc NCR for more than years, and am now the president of our advocacy group, “People First.” We are issuing a local, state and national “People First Language Pledge” for people to make changes in how they think and talk. It is our hope this movement will educate people to put the person first, not their disability.
One in five Americans is a person with a disability, but people are not and should not be defined by one thing alone. We do not say someone is cancerous, so why does society continue to say someone is disabled? Instead, it is someone WITH a disability. It is hurtful when people label me based on how I was born. I am a person, just like anyone else, with hobbies (go Ravens!) and great family and friends.
Words matter. For example, I use a wheelchair. Please do not say, “Vernon is wheelchair-bound.” “Bound” suggests I am physically tied down. I need “accessible parking,” not “handicapped parking” – this parking is meant to be accessible, regardless of who is using it.
Will you pledge not to use the “R-Word” (retard) and other disability labels that may be degrading? I hope you will join us in putting people first. To sign the People First Language Pledge, visit arcncr.org/about/pledge or learn more by calling 410-836-7177.
Respectfully,
Vernon DeHaven
Aberdeen, MD
Well put, Vernon. It takes time to change vernacular, but it can be done.
Vernon’s disability certainly hasn’t impacted his writing ability. His letter is one of the better-written pieces to appear on the Dagger for weeks. The poor chap running for sheriff that claims to be a writer could learn much from Vernon.
Nicely done, Vernon. You are a real champion. Keep spreading the word and things will change.
Thank you for stating this so eloquently, Vernon. I guess when you think about it the word disabled is offensive as hell. I’m 50% “disabled”. Does that mean that half of me is defective? Or does it mean that I’m only worth one half of a man? I prefer to think of myself as totally able but with a minor setback involving some physical limitations. Time for a new label!
Well said Verson. Much better so than Trump could ever do. In fact, he publicly makes fun of people with disabilities
(We’ve all seen it on video many times!).
in the words of George Carlin…
https://youtu.be/h67k9eEw9AY
Seriously? This is just about the most useless bunch of rubbish I have seen on the Dagger in a very long time. You can try and change the way people talk and think all you want, but in the end people will think and say whatever the hell they want to. If you have a disability, then you are disabled. Are you not glad that society recognizes your disability and gives you special parking privileges and aid from the government? I tell you what, if you give up that handicap tag, aid from the government and stop thinking and acting like a disabled person, then I will go along with not referring to you as disabled. In the meantime, I will still refer to you as a disabled person and call anyone who goes along with your idealism a retard.
Don’t you have some incoherent diatribe to make about the Man keeping you down? You add nothing to this conversation.
Sword of Light? What’s that? Some reference to a Dungeon and Dragons game or something? Listen, to hell with you and the man. This conversation is about a bunch of nothing, so I am glad that you feel I added nothing to it. Now, why don’t you and your friends get together and discuss how you are going to convince little boys that they are really little girls or how no one should have a gun unless they are a traitor to the United States? You are not worth the dirt on my tennis shoes and I just got back from fishing. That there is some rank, dank dirt. Don’t like it? Too bad. Learn to love it.
Screw you and screw the Dagger with their unreasonable censorship that is trying to prevent the public from knowing the truth about what is going on around them.
Dude just eff off. You are pathetic. Vernon is 100x the man your pencil dick will ever be.
Whatever, he is still disabled and should be referred to as disabled. You on the other hand are not a sword a light because you wish Vernon to lie about who and what he is.. There is no truth to that, so there can never be any light in what you say. Just another dill weed Dagger editor with stones the size of pebbles…..and you will never control the way I or anyone else thinks or says because you can only control what is typed. You didn’t do a good job at that either.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/retard?s=t – And as you can ALL see, I did use the word “retard” correctly, as a “noun” under definition 4b.
“Retard” is a verb. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retard
Not the way I used it. It is definitely a noun the way I used It and I stand by my choice of referencing Dictionary.com as it supports my correct usage. You are right, it can be used as a verb, but it is NOT when used in the manner I did.
To SoulCrusher and to Vernon,
I am handicapped. My knees are shot, I can barely walk. I APPRECIATE my handicapped parking privileges. I am grateful when kind people open doors for me. I am thankful when people in the supermarket get things off the top shelf for me. I am not ashamed to be handicapped (or disabled – whichever). I use a walker to go everywhere including the bathroom. People are going to look at me and say she is handicapped and make their own determinations about me. I can’t stop them. But I do appreciated their public acts of kindness. I have no reason to insult these good people because they don’t use a “politically correct” form of address when talking about me.
I am glad to see at least one Dagger regular agree with what I’m talking about. I’m sure you are a very good person and I would gladly hold the door for you or any other individual whom I thought was having trouble with a door. These are courteous and appropriate actions for those who have trouble with everyday tasks that many people take for granted. Acceptance of who and what you are is important. There is NO shame in being handicapped or disabled and I agree with everything you just typed.
Hey Soul Crusher, How are ya today? Here’s a post from your so called protege, which I know you’re not claiming or proud of, so not messing with you. This guy Donald-Jane is an idiot !!
Jane says
June 13, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Evidently the Harford County handicapped preschool with the short bus has let out for the day….Wally and her friends are back……
Protégé? Seriously? I’m sure that no one wants to be, nor do I want a protégé.
Hey Man, Nice Shot – Filter – Short Bus
Love it SoulCrusher…..”Thats why I say man nice shot.”
Oh BTW….I am a 20% military disabled Vet…So get real people…..
Mr Dehaven,
You Sir are a refreshing breathe of fresh air and many are proud of you. To emphasize your point of the ignorance of people, here’s a quote from an lets just say idiot named Donald, who goes by Jane and a whole bunch of other names; showing the exact lack of intelligence or moral fiber. And I quote from a post about the FOP Endorsing a candidate for States Attorney:
Jane says
June 13, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Evidently the Harford County handicapped preschool with the short bus has let out for the day….Wally and her friends are back……
Why would you believe this has anything to do with that? Because it doesn’t have anything to do with it. Nice try though.
It’s typical of you.
I think of a few nouns used to describe homosexuals and African Americans in years past, too. I wonder if SoulCrusher uses those, or if he reserves his hate for those he perceives won’t fight back.
I have an adjective for that – cowardly. Or maybe we go with a noun – douchebag. Your pick.
Keep wondering. I don’t think anyone cares about the language I use, except for you. Why is that? You have the right to ignore. It is no secret that I don’t like homosexuals, but it is their right to be free from persecution and I respect that. I have no problem with them living the way they want to live, but that doesn’t mean I have to hang around them or acknowledge them when I enter a room. That’s my choice. Now, I have employed blacks when no one else would give them a chance. I’ve stood by them until they stole from me, sometimes more than once. One employee used to tell me, “Black people are supposed to steal from whitey”. So, don’t give me crap about derogatory remarks I have made in the past about homosexuals or blacks because they deserved it when I did. If you don’t like, you need to learn to love it because you will never change me into something I’m not. However, I have nothing left to take or give to anyone so you wondering what I have said or will say means absolutely nothing. I am nothing and will always be nothing because I died over 8 years ago. Doesn’t it bother you that you are wasting your time talking to a ghost? Go try to push your idealism elsewhere little one……
I think some of these cats just argue for the sake of arguing. SwordofLight is clearly trying to bait you and make this personal. The only coward here is he!
Hey Donald, why not sign under your real name or any of the other fake ones you use. BTW, who’s running for Mayor in Harrisburg, PA? That’s where you vote, right? That’s what your FB page states. Can’t wait to Wally gets free from his convention out of state and amazingly see’s what he has posted. Ryden, Ryden, Ryden, keep them Ryden votes a riding in !!