รายละเอียดกระทู้

http://www.unicef.org.au/Discover/unicef-australia-blog/December-2013/Use-your-words-wisely-when-talking-about-disabilit.aspx UNICEF Australia Young Ambassador Rhiona Armont has a problem with people who can’t be bothered thinking about how they use language to discriminate. On the International Day of People with Disability, Rhiona calls for us all to think about the profound impact of our words. Above: With the help of their sister and brother Marva, 12 (left) and Mahar, 11, make their way home in the Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan. Think about your abilities, your talents and your skills. Now think about what skills you lack, what abilities you do not possess. There are a myriad of adjectives we use to differentiate ourselves from others, simply based on ability. Many people don’t consider the relationship between discourse and disabilities but I think it’s time we all started being more mindful of this particular relationship. One in 12 Australian children has a disability. Among the things that language perpetuates are prejudices of the society from which it evolves. When thinking of the extent language can impact upon others, one particularly vivid memory comes to mind. For this, I take you back to the school yard with its screaming children and brightly coloured playground equipment. While children run as fast as they can with the threat of being tagged ‘it’, one lone boy sits under an awning. Unlike others told to sit there because of a failure to comply with the ‘no hat no play’ rule, this boy sits under the awning by choice - distanced from his peers simply because he was different. Daily, this boy is subjected to all kinds of humiliation, with names such as ‘retard’, ‘idiot’ and ‘spastic’ thrown his way. A mild intellectual disability was all it took for this boy not to have a normal childhood, to feel marginalised by something trivial to many: words. At school I hear words such as these frequently thrown around. While they may not have a particular malign intention, this is exactly the kind of negative discourse we have allowed to surround people with disabilities. I have witnessed firsthand the power of words and sadly, their misuse is far too common. It is important to remember that our language shapes our perception of the world and the people in it. It is time we put what we write on paper into practice, ensuring the way we treat and speak to or about children with disabilities is equal to any other individual. No over-sensitivity, no ignorance, just acknowledgement and acceptance. Today, December 3, marks International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD). The day is sanctioned by the United Nation and aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and wellbeing. However I believe people who live with a disability deserve recognition and consideration every day. From my anecdote above, it may seem that I blame children for their prejudice against one another but in fact it is quite the opposite. Adults, I encourage you to set an example, to THINK about what you say before you say it. This is such a simple concept that I think we have become somewhat complacent about. Many of you are mindful of your words but many preach and do not practice. Be bothered with your language. It has a more profound impact than you might think. - See more at: http://www.unicef.org.au/Discover/unicef-australia-blog/December-2013/Use-your-words-wisely-when-talking-about-disabilit.aspx#sthash.bmFPFj60.dpuf