Not 'Handicapped' But 'Exceptional'

I am disabled, as are every one of my family members. Frankly, the "special" nomenclature leaves me cold. We are no more "special" than anyone is, and to claim that we somehow are more special, is insulting. It also tends to lead to the relegation of my kid to being someone's Mitzvah project - they will do something with him for brownie points but other than that do not give him the time of day. This happens both in the religious and the secular community and is one reason why I have given Chabad's "Friendship Circle" a wide berth - I have in fact built a fence around it, and if it sponsors an event, we do not attend. Reply

Rebekah's comment Thank you Rebekah for the kind way you responded to my somewhat angry comment. Here's a list of SOME of my probs.1)Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia 2) Autonomic Nervous System Disfunction 3)Fibromyalgia 4) migraines+tension & hormonal headaches 5)SEVERE Short Term Memory Loss 6)Long Term Also 7) Hashimoto's thyroiditis 8) SEVERE Asthma+C.O.P.D. 9) Generalized Arthritis & exactly in: both knees & ankles, C2-C7 10)Scoliosis 11)sciatica 12) speach imparement 13) SEVERE Spasticity in limbs,hands...14) allergies 15) take pills to stay awake 16) also have insomnia 17)Hyperacusis+Processing Disorder ,some hearing loss in R. ear. It causes me MAJOR probs.18) chronic+acute pain=Extended relief morphine a.m.,p.m. & P.R.N. up to 4x a day for "break through pain" 19) G.I. Surgery-I must take care of area daily+wkly 20) neurogenic bladder+occasional incontinence 21)Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 22) Swallowing probs. 23) use electric w/c ~ 90 % of x 24)Acid Reflux+Hyatal Hernia+Gastritis 25)osteopenia & mor Reply

Esther I have a condition that greatly limits me physically. If you'd give a definition of "VERY disabled", I'm sure something rediculous like a comparison could be made.

I think, however, that what I hear you saying is that you don't want to be defined by one of your differences, which is a respectible idea.

I however, like the idea of spiritually being considered 'exceptional', simply because it is true. There is a greater effort required to go against the grain of society, and people with disabilities are required to do this on a daily basis if they will survive.

One cannot deny that there are many who constantly decide that they would prefer to die than to live with a disabling condition. If we believe that G-d is all knowing and entirely envolved in what is allowed to happen here, then we must assume He considers us capable of living without certain physical powers (or even cognitive abilities) and having still the ability to live well. Reply

Why so many with the name "Anonymous"? What's every1 afraid of?! I'm VERY disabled. My name isn't anonymous. It's Esther Mae Gorton. Trust me. There's nothing "special" about being disabled. I have A LOT to cope with everyday. What makes me "special" is that G-d created me to be HIS daughter & HE gave me some gifts & abilities that other people don't have such as being bilingual (Espanol), singing, etc. What makes me special is the same thing that makes everyone on the planet "special." Reply

People When you refer to people with easily recognized handicaps as special, you cheapen the word "special", rather than helping the people. Only when people realize that some are better in that and others in this -- and that includes them! -- will we make headway. Truly, doesn't a person try to elevate himself and put-down others, so that others will think well of him or hire him or whatever? I don't see a cure, except for Moshiach. Reply

Moving beyond words.......How the Rebbe raised these precious souls up to the highest place, where they so deserve to be, out of his immense love every Jew. Reply

Any term will be twisted around. . . Retarded used to be a term that was polite explaining that a person was slow (retarded) in thier growth. Families kept their members out of sight because it made it look like the family had a bad thing going that could perhaps get passed on so it affected marriage prospects. Someone injured later didn't have the services or inventions that are had nowadays to keep them mobile.

Any term that is used will get twisted around by junior high kids eventually, and our society, shifting to a lower standard, seems headed towards abusing whatever lable is there. I have a son with special needs and he and his friends are the worst over this!

I believe that lables will have to be done away with and public buildings will just have be accessible, period. I have called my son exceptional for years-- while not of a high IQ, he is smart. The Rebbe gave a great ra-ra speech for his audience, and I think this is how it was intended. Reply

Taking the "dis" out of disability It is very hard to find words to say to someone who is facing an extraordinary personal challenge, but this story that took place at this actual talk of the Rebbe might help.
www.fcnj.com/588294 Reply

wonderful Jewish recognition It was 1975 when the terms were changed in the general public. So this takes away from some of the intro in the magazine, it is still wonderful to know that the Jewish world was taking part in this movement of proper language.

I also think it was clever the way still pictures were panned to make it look like a video. Reply

Mysterious ways So, our souls explore- up, down, where will we land?
I've had disabilities all my life, and I don't like the smarming term "special". I actually don't beleive in forming a "term" defining all disabled citizens as "exceptional", either.
I will confirm, though, that the Great One gives through the humbled. I took transcendental meditation when I was young and started to see the aura by choice, and not through the epileptic seizures I had as a child.
A neurologist had clipped the brain in such a way that I was not blinded, and I still could see the aura in stages. People without permission interferd with this, and so I don't seek seeing the aura and see all the types of aura anymore. It is ablated from my own body, but when I left United church to follow my heart in Judaism, I could hear people complaining that they "all " could no longer see the aura together.
They do say "G-d moves in mysterious ways, Her wonders to perform"!! Reply

The Disabled considered "Extraordinary" I'm VERY disabled. I don't have any special "abilities/powers" because of it. I dislike the term handicap alsoo but please don't call me "extraordinary. The word/label disabled is fine with me. The only extraordinary thing about me is that I'm still alive today & can do as much for myself as I do.. Reply

disabled Israeli soldiers The Rebbe's message was so beautiful and inspiring, My daughter has mental disabilities with ADHD, and she is only 6 yrs old. Though i find it very hard trying to live and struggle day by day wondering what words do people like to call her instead of mental retarded? The Rebbe has changed my thinking and so from now on i will go by Exceptional. Reply