Texas Cerebral Palsy Lawyer | Three Ways to Respect People with CP

Three Ways to Respect People with CP

If you've recently found out that your child has cerebral palsy, you're likely going to be getting to know a lot of other parents and other people who deal with this condition. One of the first things you have to understand is how to ask questions and talk about the disorder in a respectful way. This isn't what is oftentimes called "political correctness." It's much more than that; It's about recognizing the humanity of people with disabilities and simply trying to exercise good manners when you're around them.

1: They're Always People

It may seem like nitpicking to people who are old enough to remember terms such as "retarded" and "handicap" being used in casual speech, but things are different now. When you're referring to people with disabilities, remember that "people" always comes before the modifier. Again, this isn't being politically correct. People with disabilities have endured a long history of being treated as something other than human simply because they have a medical condition. No matter what medical condition they suffer with, they are always referred to as people with that condition and not as a condition alone.

2: Old Medical Terms Should be Avoided

As was pointed out above, the term "retarded" is almost universally considered to be an insult. It has been used as a pejorative for so long that using it to describe people who suffer with a mental impairment is downright insulting. Don't use medical terminology without knowing what you're talking about. Some of the terms used to refer to people with disabilities refer to specific disabilities and not to the people themselves and need to be used appropriately. For example, "crippled" is sometimes used by doctors as a modifier to describe someone's mobility condition. Referring to a person that way in casual conversation is always insulting.

3: Don't Be Condescending

Some people with cerebral palsy have fairly severe intellectual disabilities. This isn't the same as being a child. When you're talking to somebody with cerebral palsy, try to get a feel for how much intellectual development they have. Remember: a speech impairment is not the same as an intellectual disability. Some people with cerebral palsy struggle with speech and hearing but are very capable as far as intellectual abilities are concerned.

If you believe your child's cerebral palsy was caused by medical negligence, talk to a Texas cerebral palsy lawyer about filing a cerebral palsy lawsuit. You may get enough compensation to pay for many of the medical costs associated with this disorder.