People with disabilities and special needs. People with disabilities and special needs Who are people with disabilities?
If you give up and don’t have the strength to conquer the next peak, remember the historical figures and contemporaries with physical disabilities who became famous throughout the world. It’s hard to call them disabled. People with disabilities who achieve success set an example for all of us of courage, resilience, heroism and determination.
World famous personalities
The numerous stories of people with disabilities are surprising and inspiring. Individuals who have achieved success are often known throughout the world: books are written about them, films are made about them. The German musician and composer, a representative of the Viennese school, Ludwig van Beethoven, is no exception. Already famous, he began to lose his hearing. In 1802, the man became completely deaf. Despite the tragic circumstances, it was from this period of time that Beethoven began to create masterpieces. After becoming disabled, he wrote most of his sonatas, as well as the “Eroica Symphony”, “Solemn Mass”, the opera “Fidelio” and the vocal cycle “To a Distant Beloved”.
The Bulgarian clairvoyant Vanga is another historical figure who deserves respect and admiration. At the age of 12, the girl was caught in a sand hurricane and went blind. At the same time, the so-called third eye opened inside her - the all-seeing eye. She began to look into the future, predicting the fate of people. Vanga attracted attention for her activities during World War II. Then a rumor spread through the villages that she was able to determine whether a warrior died on the battlefield or not, where the missing person was located and whether there was any hope of finding him.
People during World War II
In addition to Vanga, during the German occupation there were other people with disabilities who achieved success. In Russia and beyond its borders, everyone knows the brave pilot Alexei Petrovich Maresyev. During the battle, his plane was shot down, and he himself was seriously wounded. It took him a long time to reach his own people; due to developing gangrene, he lost his legs, but despite this, he managed to convince the medical board that he was able to fly even with prosthetics. The brave pilot shot down many more enemy ships, constantly took part in military battles and returned home as a hero. After the war, he constantly traveled to the cities of the USSR and everywhere defended the rights of people with disabilities. His biography formed the basis of “The Tale of a Real Man.”
Another key figure of World War II is Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The thirty-second president of the United States was also disabled. Long before this, he contracted polio and was left paralyzed. The treatment did not produce positive results. But Roosevelt did not lose heart: he worked actively and achieved amazing success in politics and in the diplomatic field. Important pages of world history are associated with his name: the participation of the United States in the anti-Hitler coalition and the normalization of relations between the American country and the Soviet Union.
Russian heroes
The list of celebrated individuals includes other people with disabilities who have achieved success. From Russia, we first know Mikhail Suvorov, a writer and teacher who lived in the second half of the 20th century. When he was 13 years old, he lost his sight from a shell explosion. This did not stop him from becoming the author of sixteen collections of poetry, many of which received wide recognition and were set to music. Suvorov also taught at a school for the blind. Before his death, he was awarded the title of Honored Teacher of the Russian Federation.
But Valery Andreevich Fefelov worked in a different field. He not only fought for the rights of the disabled, but was also an active participant in the Soviet Union. Before that, he worked as an electrician: he fell from a height and broke his spine, remaining confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. It was on this simple device that he traveled across the expanses of a vast country, inviting people to help, if possible, the organization he created - the All-Union Society of Disabled People. The activities of the dissident were considered anti-Soviet by the USSR authorities and he and his family were expelled from the country. The refugees received political asylum in the German Federal Republic.
Famous musicians
People with disabilities who have achieved success with their creative abilities are on everyone's lips. First, there is the blind musician Ray Charles, who lived for 74 years and died in 2004. This man can rightfully be called a legend: he is the author of 70 studio albums recorded in the style of jazz and blues. He became blind at the age of seven due to sudden onset glaucoma. The illness did not become an obstacle to his musical abilities. Ray Charles received 12 Grammy awards and was celebrated in numerous venues. Frank Sinatra himself called Charles “a genius of show business,” and the famous Rolling Stone magazine included his name in the top ten of its “List of Immortals.”
Secondly, the world knows another blind musician. This is Stevie Wonder. The creative personality had a tremendous influence on the development of vocal art in the 20th century. He became the founder of the R'n'B style and classic soul. Steve went blind immediately after birth. Despite his physical handicap, he ranks second among pop performers in terms of the number of Grammy statuettes received. The musician has been awarded this award 25 times - not only for career success, but also for life achievements.
Popular athletes
People with disabilities who have achieved success in sports deserve special respect. There are a lot of them, but first of all I would like to mention Eric Weihenmayer, who, being blind, was the first in the world to climb to the top of the formidable and mighty Everest. The climber became blind at the age of 13, but managed to complete his studies, obtain a profession and a sports rank. Eric's adventures during his famous mountain conquest were made into a feature film called "Touch the Top of the World." By the way, Everest is not the only achievement of a man. He managed to climb seven of the most dangerous peaks in the world, including Elbrus and Kilimanjaro.
Another world famous personality is Oscar Pistorius. Having become disabled almost from the first days of his life, in the future he managed to change the idea of modern sports. The man, having no legs below the knee, competed on an equal footing with healthy athletes-runners, and achieved enormous success and numerous victories. Oscar is a symbol of people with disabilities and an example that disability is not an obstacle to a normal life, including playing sports. Pistorius is an active participant in the program to support citizens with physical disabilities and the main promoter of active sports among this category of people.
Strong women
Don't forget that people with disabilities who are successful in their careers are not exclusively members of the stronger sex. There are a lot of women among them - for example, Esther Verger. Our contemporary - a Dutch tennis player - is considered the greatest in this sport. At the age of 9, due to unsuccessful spinal cord surgery, she sat in a wheelchair and managed to turn tennis on its head. In our time, the woman is a winner of the Grand Slam and other tournaments, a four-time Olympic champion, and she has become a leader in world competitions seven times. Since 2003, she has not suffered a single defeat, winning 240 sets in a row.
Helen Adams Keller is another name to be proud of. The woman was blind and deaf-mute, but having mastered sign functions and mastered the correct movements of the larynx and lips, she entered a higher educational institution and graduated with honors. The American became a famous writer who, on the pages of her books, talked about herself and people like her. Her story formed the basis of William Gibson's play The Miracle Worker.
Actresses and dancers
People with disabilities who have achieved success are in the public eye. Tabloids often like to publish photos of the most beautiful women: among such talented and beautiful ladies it is worth noting. In 1914, the French actress had her leg amputated, but she continued to appear on the theater stage. The last time grateful viewers saw her on stage was in 1922: at the age of 80, she played a role in the play “The Lady of the Camellias.” Many prominent artists called Sarah an example of excellence, courage and
Another famous woman who captivated the public with her thirst for life and creativity is Lina Po, ballerina and dancer. Her real name is Polina Gorenshtein. In 1934, after suffering encephalitis, she was left blind and partially paralyzed. Lina could no longer perform, but she did not lose heart - the woman learned to sculpt. She was accepted into the Union of Soviet Artists, and the woman’s works were constantly exhibited at the most famous exhibitions in the country. The main collection of her sculptures is now in the museum of the All-Russian Society of the Blind.
Writers
People with disabilities who have achieved success have not only lived in modern times. Among them are many historical figures - for example, the writer Miguel Cervantes, who lived and worked in the 17th century. The author of the world-famous novel about the adventures of Don Quixote not only spent his time writing stories, he also served in the navy. In 1571, taking part in the Battle of Lepanto, he was seriously wounded - he lost his arm. Subsequently, Cervantes liked to repeat that disability became a powerful impetus for the further development and improvement of his talent.
John Pulitzer is another person who has become famous throughout the world. The man became blind at the age of 40, but after the tragedy he began to work even more. In the modern world, he is known to us as a successful writer, journalist, and publisher. He is called the founder of the “yellow press”. After his death, John bequeathed the $2 million he earned. Most of this amount went to open the Higher School of Journalism. The rest of the money was used to establish a prize for correspondents, which has been awarded since 1917.
Scientists
Among this category there are also people with disabilities who have achieved success in life. Just look at the famous English physicist Stephen William Hawking, the author of the theory of primordial black holes. The scientist suffers from amyotrophic sclerosis, which first deprived him of the ability to move and then to speak. Despite this, Hawking is actively working: he controls a wheelchair and a special computer using the fingers of his right hand - the only movable part of his body. He now occupies a high position that three centuries ago belonged to Isaac Newton: he is a professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge.
It is worth noting Louis Braille, a French teacher of typhology. As a little boy, he injured his eyes with a knife, after which he lost the ability to see forever. To help himself and other blind people, he created a special raised dot font for the blind. It is still used today all over the world. Based on the same principles, the scientist came up with special notes for the blind, which made it possible for blind people to practice music.
Conclusions
People with disabilities who have achieved success in our time and in past centuries can become an example for each of us. Their life, work, activity is a huge feat. Agree how difficult it is sometimes to overcome obstacles on the path to your dreams. Now imagine that their barriers are broader, deeper and more insurmountable. Despite the difficulties, they managed to pull themselves together, gather their will into a fist and begin to take active action.
It is simply unrealistic to list all worthy personalities in one article. People with disabilities who have achieved success make up an entire army of citizens: each of them demonstrates their courage and strength. Among them are the famous artist Chris Brown, who has only one limb, the writer Anna McDonald, diagnosed with intellectual disability, as well as TV presenter Jerry Jewell, poet Chris Nolan and screenwriter Chris Foncheka (all three have cerebral palsy), and so on. What can we say about the many athletes without legs and arms who actively participate in competitions? The stories of these people should become a standard for each of us, a symbol of courage and determination. And when you give up and it seems that the whole world is against you, remember these heroes and move on towards your dream.
Language influences behavior and attitudes towards others. Words from everyday speech can offend, label and discriminate. This is especially important when it comes to certain communities: people with disabilities, children without parental care or people with HIV.
The material was written in partnership with the Coalition for Equality, which fights discrimination and promotes respect for human rights in Kyrgyzstan.
How should we approach people with disabilities?
It is this expression - “people with disabilities” - that is the most neutral and acceptable. If you doubt the correctness of your words, ask how best to address them. For example, the word “disabled” is acceptable to use, but offends some people.
Wheelchair users believe that words such as “wheelchair user” and “spinal supporter” are correct, and the most common phrase “people with disabilities” is undesirable to use.
This is due to the fact that a person with a disability is often limited by the infrastructure, and not by his characteristics.
“A person with disabilities is not entirely correct, because we are talking about the fact that disability is not always associated only with physical health,” says civil activist Ukey Muratalieva.
Activist Askar Turdugulov shares the same opinion. He believes that some people may not like even neutral words like “disabled” or “person with a disability.”
“A person, especially one who received a disability during life, and not from birth, still remains the same inside himself. Therefore, he does not like to hear the word “disabled” addressed to him once again. I saw a lot of this in my surroundings,” says Turdugulov.
Activists note that it would not be a bad idea to clarify the person’s gender. For example, a woman with a disability or a boy with a disability.
A common mistake is to speak from a position of pity and use words like "victim." A person with a disability does not need pity and often does not approve of such treatment.
Another blunder is to talk about people without disabilities as “normal.” The very concept of “normality” varies among people, and there is no single norm for everyone.
Right
Person with disability
Man/woman/child with disabilities
Wheelchair user; Man in a wheelchair
Wrong
Person with disabilities
Wheelchair-bound;
Victim of disability
Normal people; Ordinary people
Controversial
Wheelchair user; spinal support
What is the correct name for people with different disabilities?
There is a rule here that in English is called “People first language”. The idea is that first you talk about the person himself, and only then about his characteristics. For example, a girl with Down syndrome.
But the best way is to get to know the person and call them by name.
The common words “down,” “autistic,” and “epileptic” are incorrect. They emphasize and put the feature first, instead of the person himself. And such words are perceived as insults.
If it is important to mention such a difference in the context of a conversation, it is better to use a neutral expression, for example, “a person with epilepsy.” There is still controversy around the world about the word “autism”. Some people ask to use the term “person with autism”, others ask for the term “autistic person”.
The first believe that you first need to identify the person himself, because autism is just a feature. Their opponents say autism defines them in many ways as a person.
It is incorrect to say that a person “is sick” or “suffers” from autism, Down syndrome or cerebral palsy, although the above is listed in the International Classification of Diseases.
Such words evoke pity and sympathy for the “suffering”, but this is a common mistake: people with developmental disabilities want equal treatment.
Some experts consider it incorrect to focus on the disease.
“You can’t say that this is an illness, and you can’t say “people suffering from Down syndrome.” Because these people do not suffer from such a condition. They are born with it and don’t know what it’s like to be different,” says Victoria Toktosunova, director of the Ray of Good Foundation.
“You can’t say ‘down’ - essentially, it’s the name of the scientist who discovered this syndrome, and you’re calling a person by someone else’s name,” she says.
Right
A person with Down syndrome
Woman with autism
Man with epilepsy
People with developmental disabilities
Lives with epilepsy/autism
Living with Down syndrome
Children with Down syndrome
Wrong
Epileptic
Sick, disabled
Suffer from epilepsy/autism
Suffering from Down's disease
Downyats, little ones
How to contact people with HIV/AIDS?
First, let's figure it out: HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus, AIDS is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the most advanced stage of HIV.
The most acceptable formulation is “people living with HIV”. This definition is also recommended by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
According to Chynara Bakirova, director of the AntiAIDS Association, HIV-infected is a medical term indicating the presence of an immunodeficiency virus.
At the same time, Bakirova noted that the best option is to address the person simply by name.
“If we talk about reducing discrimination, it is better not to mention the presence of the virus at all, not to remind the person and not to focus attention on it,” she says.
Right
A person who is HIV positive
People living with HIV
Call by name
Wrong
Patients with HIV;
Infected with AIDS
HIV/AIDS
Controversial
HIV-infected
How to talk about children who have no parents?
When communicating with children, the main thing is to take their opinion into account, says Mirlan Medetov, a representative of the association for the protection of children's rights. According to him, there is no need to focus on the fact that the child has lost his parents.
“If you address a child and say “orphan” all the time, this is not likely to discriminate against a person, but to treat him inappropriately. Such words can hurt and upset,” he explains.
Lira Juraeva, director of the Public Fund “SOS Children's Villages of Kyrgyzstan” said that the term “orphans” is not used in their organization. There are reasons for this - the moment a child comes to them, he “ceases being an orphan and finds a family.”
Juraeva believes that the most correct option is “a child who has lost parental care,” namely guardianship, and not parents. According to her, there are many social orphans in Kyrgyzstan, in whom one of the parents is alive and cannot take care of their child. The reasons for this are different - financial problems, alcohol/drug addiction, social immaturity.
Juraeva explained that the word “orphan” has a negative connotation and gives rise to stereotypes that are very strong today.
Nazgul Turdubekova, head of the League of Children's Rights Defenders Foundation, which has been promoting children's rights and freedoms for 10 years, also agrees with her.
“If you say the word “orphan” in colloquial speech, directly or in passing, it is unethical in relation to a child. But this terminology is used in government agencies. For example, in the National Statistical Committee, this is what they write in the statistics - “a conditional percentage of orphans,” she says.
Turdubekova believes that if a journalist refers to the National Statistics Committee, then it is acceptable to use the word “orphan”. But the best way to address such a child is simply by name, without emphasis on the fact that he was left without parents.
“If we look at the history of the Russian state, and then the Soviet one, the value of a person was in the very last place, and this is accordingly reflected in the language,” the professor believes.
Another philologist Mamed Tagaev added that in the Russian language there are cycles during which the meaning of a word can change. The professor believes that even a word like “cripple” was initially neutral, but over time it became offensive. Then the foreign word “disabled” came to replace it.
“But over time, the word “disabled” begins to take on the same derogatory and offensive meaning in people’s minds,” says Tagaev.
Activist Syinat Sultanalieva believes that the topic of politically correct treatment began to be actively raised only recently. In her opinion, cultural exchange helps with this.
“I would consider this a consequence of the increasing openness of the citizens of our country to global processes through training programs, internships, acquaintances and friendships with people from other countries. We are learning to look differently at issues that previously seemed unshakable,” says Sultanalieva.
Neutral words suddenly became offensive: “old people”, “disabled”, “blind”... Why does this happen? Why and who needs cumbersome synonyms? How will the Russian language withstand politically correct innovations?
From Napoleon to the jungle
The first written mention of political correctness dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. Napoleon reached for a book on the top shelf. “Allow me, Your Majesty,” Marshal Augereau fussed. “I’m taller than you.” - "Higher?! - the emperor chuckled. - Longer!
This is, of course, a joke. The term “political correctness” (abbreviated PC) appeared in the United States in the 1970s through the efforts of the “new left”. The idea that words capable of offending them should be prohibited and punished quickly took hold of the masses, which, as is known from classical leftist literature (K. Marx), makes it a material force. Already in the mid-1980s, criminal laws appeared in some states that toughened penalties for crimes against representatives of certain social groups with psychological, physiological or cultural characteristics (Hate Crime Laws). Now such legislation is in force in 45 states, a similar federal act was adopted in 1994, and dictionaries of politically correct words and expressions have appeared in universities and some other institutions in the United States. Other countries have adopted the experience. In the West, you can now pay for a phrase spoken in the heat of the moment with a position, reputation, money, or even freedom.
“Initially, political correctness had the best intentions - not to offend,” says Elena Shmeleva, candidate of philological sciences, senior researcher at the department of culture of Russian speech at the Institute of Russian Language of the Russian Academy of Sciences, “and this is really important and necessary. But in America, the passion for political correctness has already reached a certain limit - according to the principle “make a fool pray to God.”
They began to cleanse the verbal ranks with representatives of non-white races, women and sodomites. Further - everywhere. The ranks of those potentially offended are multiplying every day: the elderly, the disabled, the ugly (“different appearance”), the stupid (“those who think differently”), representatives of certain professions (“consultants”, not “salespeople”, “restaurant specialists”, not "waiters"), the poor ("economically disadvantaged"), the unemployed ("not receiving wages") and even criminals ("forced to endure difficulties due to the characteristics of their behavior"). There is even a special environmental political correctness that calls for calling a chop a “fried piece of animal muscle” and paper a “recycled corpse of a tree.” The word “jungle” was seen as having a negative emotional connotation and now it is “rain forest.”
Russian in general order
What about us? What is the situation with political correctness in the Russian language? We are actively adopting American-English tracing papers, inventing our own euphemisms, there are already PC phrasebooks for radio and television workers in Russia; their composition and the sanctions imposed on violators are determined by the management of the channels; general rules and a system of punishments for their violation do not yet exist.
A mechanical voice on the subway suggests giving up seats not to old people, but to “elderly people,” the computer emphasizes the word “negro” as non-existent, and even on a bag of cat food, instead of “for the picky,” the inscription “for animals especially sensitive to the taste of the product” appeared. . However, it is not so easy for the Russian language to keep up with its Western counterparts: its grammatical structure itself is not inclined to this. For example, today a politically correct American would call the same Napoleon vertically challenged. The translation of these two words is cumbersome and terrible: a man who overcomes difficulties because of his vertical proportions!
“At international conferences I heard reports that the Russian language is terribly politically incorrect,” says Elena Shmeleva. - We have an unmarked masculine gender. “He” is a person in general, it doesn’t matter whether he is a man or a woman. A doctor, a professor, a manager... Political correctness does not allow such confusion.”
In one form or another, political correctness has always existed in the language. In another way, it can be called linguistic tact, sensitivity, attentiveness to other people's troubles and problems. E. Ya. Shmeleva points out the pairs available in the Russian language to denote bad human qualities: a softer, neutral word and a rougher one - “economical” and “greedy”, “narcissistic” and “proud”.
Language is a living organism. Many words change over time, they seem to acquire a thorny shell and, wounding those they relate to, suddenly begin to scratch the larynx of those who pronounce them. Such “mutants” leave the language naturally or forcibly. “This happened, for example, with the word “Jew,” says Elena Shmeleva. — Even in Dahl’s dictionary it was neutral, but by the beginning of the twentieth century it had already become unacceptable, abusive. This is connected with the Jewish pogroms. I think the main role in eradicating the word belonged to the publicists of that time, who began to replace it with “Jew” in their magazine articles. But this, of course, was dictated by their internal censorship, and not external.”
Professor Viktor Zaretsky, head of the laboratory of psychological and pedagogical problems of continuous education of children and youth with special needs and disabilities at the Institute of Problems of Integrative (Inclusive) Education, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, talks about how he compiled a manual on ergonomics in the eighties, in which there had to be a chapter about jobs for people with disabilities: “We thought for a long time what to call these people. Being disabled is not good, we already instinctively understood this. As a result, the chapter “Organization of labor of persons with reduced working capacity” was obtained. How I suffered with it, how many times I rewrote it! I write - and everything works out, how to adapt this vital, natural marriage to the needs of society. And all the same, when I gave the manual to my semi-dissident friends to read, they were indignant: “It’s just like that in your text, how can you squeeze a tax out of them so that they don’t sit on the neck of the state!” But I edited and cleaned up so much.”
Of course, you always need to monitor your speech, remember with whom and about whom you are talking. Especially public people (and we are all public today to one degree or another thanks to the Internet), vested with power. Especially when we are talking about the weak, sick, unprotected, suffering... It is about correctness in relation to them that we will talk about, leaving feminists and blacks aside. Now, in the age of information technology, it has become much more difficult to predict how and, most importantly, where our word will resonate.
“Political correctness appeared in the twentieth century also because,” says E. Ya. Shmeleva, “there was no such public speech before, there was no media. People saw the audience they were speaking to and could calculate it. Now any statement you make can be heard by millions of people, this must always be remembered.”
The thing is obvious. Medical jargon does not leave the walls of the resident’s room; for prying ears it will be unbearable, therefore it is taboo. Unfortunately, sometimes there are no barriers even for those who stand on the high podium. Victor Kirillovich Zaretsky recalls the following incident: “One famous person on the presidium of the Russian Academy of Education, after a report on the problems of children with disabilities, said: “They brought a girl, and we argued: is she an imbecile or should she be treated like a human being.” The audience gasped. After all, the speaker determined the policy in the education of children with disabilities!”
What is the old man's fault?
Sometimes the metamorphoses that occur with words seem strange, sometimes unjustified, sometimes premature. We resist, we are surprised. But why should we now say “blind” instead of “blind”, and “hard of hearing” instead of “deaf”? Why do good old “old people” and “alcoholics” need to be turned into “elderly people” and “alcoholics”? What is the difference between the words “blind” and “blind”?
Why these cumbersome phrases, what is the meaning of all these “with”, “alternatively”, “otherwise”, “experiencing difficulties”, “suffering”?.. All this only slows down speech! Let's try to figure it out.
“Many of these expressions are heavily influenced by American English,” explains Elena Shmeleva, “which is understandable and understandable. This is not a consequence of a global conspiracy; the euphemisms “people with disabilities”, “people with disabilities”, etc. were born in the depths of volunteer, charitable, human rights organizations, the forms and traditions of which came to us from the West. There was simply nothing like this in the USSR, there was no charity itself. It is no coincidence that the word “charity” in Soviet dictionaries was labeled “outdated.”
But what's wrong with the word "disabled"? In Russian it is neutral. In it, unlike French or English, the meaning “unfit”, “incapable” is not read, and “invalid from war” is generally an honor! “This is a social stigma,” says Victor Zaretsky. — If you call a person “sick” in a hospital, he will always feel sick. If you say to a child: “Hey, you fool, come here!”, he will be a fool.” By calling a person disabled (autistic, etc.), we, firstly, stop calling him a person, and secondly, we reduce him to his diagnosis, to his illness, to his disability.
The preposition “s” is the most politically correct part of speech in the Russian language. Another lifesaver is the word “suffering” (from alcoholism, schizophrenia, autism, etc.). But it’s not so simple anymore. The very word “suffering” can be offensive and sometimes harmful. “I said for quite a long time: “People suffering from cerebral palsy,” says Professor Zaretsky. “They corrected me: “We don’t suffer.” By eliminating this word, I really gradually learned to see a person not as suffering, but as someone whose life has simply been changed due to the fact that he has cerebral palsy.” At lectures on psychiatry and clinical psychology at Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, we students were taught to say “crazy” or “psychiatric”. Otherwise, it is actually very difficult to treat the patient humanely.
As for “those suffering from alcoholism/drug addiction,” there is a problem here. One of the signs of addiction is denial of the disease. The first step to healing is overcoming it. Without this, further movement towards a normal life is impossible.
According to E. Ya. Shmeleva, it is better to name people who have various diseases, avoiding the names of diagnoses. A linguist is surprised, for example, by the attempt to hide something behind the awkward acronym PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS). “The word remains, the diagnosis is a stigma. But these people are shunned, shunned from them. If we are talking about protecting the feelings of AIDS patients, it would probably be worth inventing some other, more veiled term.”
It is unlikely that anyone will be surprised by psychiatric political correctness. The words “psychopath” and “hysterical” have not only become impolite, they have turned into curse words. Replacements: “personality disorders”, “character pathology”, “histrionic disorder”.
But why did the word “old man” suddenly become impolite? This is due to the general global trend - the cult of youth. “Old people are no longer the most respected people,” says Elena Yakovlevna. - Life has changed. Even the traditional form of knowledge transfer - from senior to junior - has been partially disrupted. Students often obtain information earlier than professors. Old age is associated, rather, not with wisdom, but with decrepitude, illness, and the inability to accomplish something. That’s why they try not to call active people old people.”
Understand someone else's pain
What about the disabled themselves? Are word games that important to them? “Call me a pot, just don’t put it in the stove,” jokes the deaf-blind-mute Professor Suvorov. “I wish I were normal,” sighs one of our freelance writers, “but I’m disabled.” We have to educate: “You can’t say that. You are a person with a disability." “Is there a difference,” he wonders. “Will this make me start running and jumping?”
“I’m an old man,” my father liked to repeat, but when they gave him a seat on the subway and added: “Sit down, grandfather,” he became upset and even angry.
“It is known that only representatives of the very group to which correctness extends have the right to speak about themselves in a politically incorrect way,” says Elena Shmeleva. “It’s very difficult to understand what is perceived as offensive without being in that person’s shoes.”
“When they say ‘blind’ about me, it seems to me as if I don’t exist,” one blind girl once admitted to me. “As if I don’t see you, the sighted, but you don’t see me.” Blind spot..."
The most vulnerable people in the world are mothers of sick children. The short words “daunenok” and “detsepeshka”, with their apparent affection, are like a blow from a whip for them. Why? Do we have the right to ask this question and dissect the pain of others? Isn’t it easier to just take it for granted: you can’t say that. Probably, a slight lengthening of verbal constructions will not be too big a sacrifice for all of us - even if it seems that there is no meaning, just inhibition of speech. After all, even in a hurry, an intelligent person holds the door without turning around - just in case. The possibility that there is someone behind whom the door might hit too hard is always there.
A journalist I know, who experienced the death of her young son from a rare genetic disease and devoted herself to this topic, diligently avoids even the names of diseases in her column, knowing that this too is painful. This is a stigma, this is a reason for idle speculation and cruel comments. She writes simply: “special children,” without unnecessary details. “A disabled child is inferior,” comments Elena Shmeleva, “this is the prevailing stereotype in society. Let’s call it “unusual”, “special” - and somehow support the parents. Their child is no worse than others, he’s just different.”
“It’s wonderful to destroy words.”
Political correctness is often compared to the Newspeak in Orwell's 1984. Newspeak is a language put into the service of a totalitarian regime, a language where words have the opposite of their original meaning, a language whose vocabulary is not growing, but is shrinking. In general, a portrait of political correctness, which is often called “linguistic fascism”, “social dementia”. But is the beast as terrible as it is painted?
Victor Zaretsky, for example, is convinced that political correctness is precisely one of the forms of the fight against totalitarian thinking: “In the deep layers of our mentality lies the idea that there is something unique, correct, and there are people who know how to create this correct thing.” . And everyone considers themselves precisely in this category of people. I believe that there is a connection between the totalitarianism of consciousness and the attitude towards disabled people (elderly people, etc.) as inferior members of society. Totalitarianism is inevitably associated with discrimination against people on a variety of grounds.”
E. Ya. Shmeleva, in turn, is amazed at how little the Russian language has changed over the 70 years of the totalitarian regime, when new words were introduced by force and en masse. “Only some small fragments were changed; most of the new words were discarded. And most importantly, the system-linguistic picture of the world remained the same as it was at the end of the 19th century, in the era of Russian classical literature. No matter how much we were taught to inform on our neighbors, the word “informer” retained a negative connotation in all dictionaries, and it was not possible to “correct” it.”
Language knows how to resist what is imposed on it. When society once again begins to sound the alarm about its excessive clogging, or even imminent destruction, it is not specialists who are most active, but, so to speak, “ordinary users.” “Linguists at such moments act as psychotherapists,” says Elena Shmeleva, “because they know the history of language. And we, Russian scholars, are also aware of what an amazing, simply God-given power the Russian language is. He can handle everything, no matter what we throw at him.”
Today, Elena Yakovlevna sees the main problem for the language associated with political correctness in long clerical phrases such as “families with children with developmental disabilities”, “problems of the elderly and people with disabilities”... “It is useless to fight them,” says she, - but they will die, the tongue throws them out. These phrases will remain in official papers, but people will not use them. They themselves in the media, on the Internet, on forums, will begin to call themselves some short word, good. After all, there are already “special children” - a very successful euphemism. Children with Down syndrome are sometimes called “sunny children”, perhaps this will catch on. I have already seen the expression “happy age” - in the sense of advanced age. It is possible that some “wonderful people” will appear. What exact words these will be is unknown. This will take time.
In the meantime, we just have to use three golden rules:
1. Do not use words that may offend someone, even if they seem neutral to you, and their replacements seem cumbersome.
2. Calculate the audience, remember who you are currently addressing.
3. Remember that many more people can hear, read, and see you than you think, and these people are very different.
Many people who have suffered some kind of injury or illness, as a result of which there are obvious, visible or hidden impairments in the functioning of the body/organism, receive the status of “DISABLED” for STATE SOCIAL SERVICES. This status allows a person to receive all the benefits, rehabilitation equipment and other support provided by state social programs. At the same time, the definition of “Disability” is divided into at least three groups (as well as by type and type of “illness”), each of which has its own specific support program.
After people begin to receive the “benefits” provided for them, a PART of such people see in this “all the delights of life” and the benefits that can be derived from the state in which they find themselves. A great desire develops to receive the “benefits” the subject needs everywhere and in everything, even in those aspects where they are NOT provided. As a result of such “conveniences”, developing wishes and the possibility of manipulating others, a stable, latent, and sometimes quite conscious REluctance to strive for restoration or treatment (in those cases in which this is possible and necessary) rapidly develops. Why do or change something if everything you need will be given? If somewhere, something is NOT given, you can take advantage of the DISABLED status and appeal to people to conscience and justice, while clearly manipulating. Oddly enough, but it works. And so, the question becomes relevant;
What attitude is formed towards such “fair manipulators” as a result of their actions? As a rule, contacts with such people are gradually stopped, and then reduced to the possible minimum. In general, when people communicate and one of the parties periodically defines himself as “disabled,” this immediately alarms the second interlocutor, whose reaction is aimed at completing the dialogue as quickly as possible, so as not to be subjected to manipulation and moralizing.
Thus, the “disabled person,” “thanks to” manipulations, appeals to pity, sympathy and justice, receives the desired benefits from the social and close environment. But it is precisely these actions that become the MAIN reason that society begins to suppress possible contacts and further push the person away. And the reason for this, as it turned out, is not injury or disease at all.
A person with LIMITED PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES (PHC). Who are they, and how do they differ from disabled people? Externally, physically and physiologically - nothing. The difference lies, first of all, in their psychology and mentality. In how people perceive themselves, in their attitude towards themselves, personal aspirations and positioning in front of society.
A FEV person has all the same rights and opportunities as part of the provision of State Social Services. But at the same time, his aspirations and desires to develop as a person do not stop.
Having lost certain functions, it is engaged in their restoration.
If it is impossible to restore what was lost (for example, after amputation), he searches for alternative options that make it possible to realize his needs independently.
Looks for and finds new opportunities to restore social status and role. Of course, sometimes this requires not only physical, but also material costs.
Appeals to society really look like appeals, and NOT demands.
People's FEV maintains and increases their circle of friends, acquaintances and acquaintances.
They are able not only to receive, but also to give. They are able to understand and respect people close to them, as well as in society, to accept their opinions and points of view, which in fact forms an attitude towards them that is opposite to that which is formed in relation to people with disabilities.
So, as can be seen from what has been described, the difference between a disabled person and a person with FEV is just a person’s manifestation of himself. And depending on this manifestation, the attitude of the social environment towards a particular person will be formed.
Popeskul Alexander.
People who doubt their own abilities should definitely familiarize themselves with the achievements of famous disabled people. True, most people with disabilities who have achieved success can hardly be called disabled. As their inspiring stories prove, nothing can stop a person from achieving high goals, leading an active life and becoming a role model. So let's take a look at the great people with disabilities.
Stephen Hawking
Hawking was born an absolutely healthy man. However, in his youth he was given a terrible diagnosis. Doctors diagnosed Stephen with a rare pathology - amyotrophic sclerosis, which is also known as Charcot's disease.
Symptoms of the disease quickly gained momentum. Closer to reaching adulthood, our hero became almost completely paralyzed. The young man was forced to use a wheelchair. Partial mobility was preserved only in some facial muscles and individual fingers. To make his own life easier, Stephen agreed to undergo throat surgery. However, the decision only brought harm, and the guy lost the ability to reproduce sounds. From that moment on, he could communicate only thanks to an electronic speech synthesizer.
However, all this did not prevent Hawking from being included in the list of people with disabilities who have achieved success. Our hero managed to earn the status of one of the greatest scientists. This person is considered a real sage and a person who is capable of turning the most daring, fantastic ideas into reality.
These days, Stephen Hawking is engaged in active scientific work in his own residence away from people. He devoted his life to writing books, educating the population, and popularizing science. Despite his physical handicap, this outstanding man is married and has children.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Let's continue our conversation about people with disabilities who have achieved success. Without a doubt, Beethoven, the legendary German composer of classical music, deserves a place on our list. In 1796, at the height of his world fame, the composer began to suffer from progressive hearing loss caused by inflammation of the inner ear canals. Several years passed, and Ludwig van Beethoven completely lost the ability to perceive sounds. However, it was from this time that the author’s most famous works began to appear.
Subsequently, the composer wrote the famous “Eroica Symphony” and captured the imagination of classical music lovers with the most complex parts from the opera “Fidelio” and the “Ninth Symphony with Chorus”. In addition, he created numerous works for quartets, cellists, and vocal performers.
Esther Vergeer
The girl has the status of the strongest tennis player on the planet, who won her titles while sitting in a wheelchair. In her youth, Esther required spinal cord surgery. Unfortunately, surgery only made the situation worse. The girl lost her legs, depriving her of the ability to move independently.
One day, while in a wheelchair, Vergeer decided to try playing tennis. The incident marked the beginning of her incredibly successful career in professional sports. The girl was awarded the title of world champion 7 times, repeatedly won high-profile victories at the Olympic Games, and won prizes in a series of Grand Slam tournaments. Moreover, Esther holds an unusual record. Since 2003, she has managed not to lose a single set during the competition. At the moment there are more than two hundred of them.
Eric Weihenmayer
This outstanding man is the only climber in history who managed to conquer Everest while completely blind. Eric became blind at the age of 13. However, thanks to his innate focus on achieving high success, Weihenmayer first received a high-quality education, worked as a teacher, professionally engaged in wrestling, and then devoted his life to conquering mountain peaks.
An artistic film was made about the high achievements of this disabled athlete, which was called “Touch the Top of the World.” In addition to Everest, the hero climbed the seven highest peaks on the planet. In particular, Weihenmayer conquered such daunting mountains as Elbrus and Kilimanjaro.
Alexey Petrovich Maresyev
At the height of World War II, this fearless man defended the country from invaders as a military pilot. In one of the battles, Alexei Maresyev’s plane was destroyed. Miraculously, the hero managed to stay alive. However, severe injuries forced him to agree to amputation of both lower limbs.
However, receiving a disability did not bother the outstanding pilot at all. Only after leaving the military hospital did he begin to seek the right to return to aviation. The army was in dire need of talented pilots. Therefore, soon Alexei Maresyev was offered prosthetics. Thus, he made many more combat missions. For his courage and military exploits, the pilot was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Ray Charles
Next on our list is a legendary man, an outstanding musician and one of the most celebrated jazz performers. Ray Charles began suffering from blindness at the age of 7. Presumably, this was caused by medical negligence, in particular improper treatment of glaucoma.
Subsequently, Ray began to develop his creative inclinations. Reluctance to give up allowed our hero to become the most famous blind musician of our time. At one time, this outstanding person was nominated for as many as 12 Grammy awards. His name is forever inscribed in the hall of fame of jazz, rock and roll, blues and country. In 2004, Charles was included in the top ten most talented artists of all time according to the authoritative publication Rolling Stone.
Nick Vujicic
What other people with disabilities who have achieved success deserve attention? One of these is Nick Vujicic, an ordinary person who has suffered from a rare hereditary pathology called tetra-amelia since birth. When he was born, the boy was missing his upper and lower limbs. There was only a small appendage of the foot.
In his youth, Nick was offered surgery. The purpose of the surgical intervention was to separate the fused fingers on the only process of the lower limb. The guy was extremely happy that he had the opportunity, at least half-heartedly, to manipulate objects and move without outside help. Inspired by the change, he learned to swim, surf and skateboard, and work on a computer.
In adulthood, Nick Vujicic got rid of past experiences associated with physical disabilities. He began traveling around the world giving lectures, motivating people to new achievements. Often a man speaks to young people who have difficulty socializing and finding the meaning of life.
Valery Fefelov
Valery Andreevich Fefelov is famous as one of the leaders of the social movement of dissidents, as well as a fighter for the recognition of the rights of people with disabilities. In 1966, while working as an electrician at one of the Soviet enterprises, this man suffered an industrial injury that led to a fracture of the spine. Doctors told Valery that he would remain in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. As often happens, our hero received absolutely no help from the state.
In 1978, Valery Fefelov organized the Initiative Group to protect the rights of people with disabilities throughout the entire Soviet Union. Soon the social activities of the organization were recognized by the authorities as such that they threatened the security of the state. A criminal case was opened against Fefelov, accusing him of resisting the policies of the country's leadership.
Fearing reprisals from the KGB, our hero was forced to move to Germany, where he was granted refugee status. Here Valery Andreevich continued to defend the interests of people with disabilities. Subsequently, he became the author of a book entitled “There are no disabled people in the USSR!”, which caused a lot of noise in society. The work of the famous human rights activist was published in English and Dutch.
Louis Braille
As a child, this man received an eye injury, which developed into severe inflammation and led to complete blindness. Louis decided not to lose heart. He devoted all his time to finding a solution that would allow visually impaired and blind people to recognize text. This is how the special Braille font was invented. Nowadays, it is widely used in institutions that rehabilitate people with disabilities.
