Last week, a discussion arose on the nation e-list (for parents of children with Down syndrome) expressing irritation over the use of words such as "high functioning" and "low functioning" being used to describe/compare children. I am also uncomfortable with the language, but understand professionals use it as a shorthand in some contexts, to save time. However, it undoubtedly causes lowered expectations in many cases. And it is discriminatory. I've never heard a nondisabled person being described as low-functioning. The language has a de-humanizing element. People should be specific about what a person can and cannot do, if they are in a situation where knowing another person's acquired skills is relevant to their job.
For further reading, Tara Marie referred parents to The Disability Hierarchy article in the lastest issue of Disability Is Natural. I don't remember seeing this website before. It links to a number of insightful and thought-provoking articles, including:
Halloween and the Mask of Disability
Disability Awareness vs. Similarity Awareness
When Is a Disability Not a Disability
Community Leadership for Inclusion
The Magic (and Lessons) of Movies
When Less Is More
Why Do We Have Parallel Worlds?
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Walking the walk: Kim at Upward Call has posted Loving the Hard Ones, on relating to an adult with autism, who is greatly impaired in his ability to form healthy relationships. Kim draws a picture of the practical working out of welcoming people with certain types of disabilities into the church. I applaud her for staying in the game.
The labeling of levels of function has always really bugged me. Different people do well (or not) in different areas. For instance, one would say that Evan was somewhat low functioning if they heard him talk. However, he is does very well in other areas. You're right, Julana. It is discriminatory and not very accurate.
ReplyDeleteThanks as always for the new links to check out. You always find some great ones!
To me, we work so hard to teach our children and the world that sterotyping and generalizing are negative things. Yet we use labels as low functioning and high functioning to describe a person with a disability. In reality, we are all "low functioning then" at certain things and high functioning at others. I really find your blog very interesting! My daughter has multiple disabilities and her daughter refuses to label her. My blog is just about being a mom of two children with disabilities!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori. I'm sure parents are more sensitive to this issue than most people. As we should be.
ReplyDeleteLisa,
It's nice to meet you. You're right. I'd like to be higher functioning at cleaning right now. :-)
Our son also had infantile spasms and went through the ACTH protocol, so I can identify with part of your story, to a large degree.
Vashti,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that one. My nephew missed getting into a program for the "gifted and talented" musically by one point on a test. It was a downer for him and his mother, because he didn't get into any of the other G&T classes, either. What a terrible message to send to children and parents.