| From the CEO
What do you think of when you hear the term “special?"
The passive aggressive sarcasm and moral superiority of SNL’s Church Lady’s
“Well, isn’t that special?”
Special council Jack Smith?
Special sauce or Special delivery?
Special forces or Special agents?
Whether positive or negative, SPECIAL implies that something is different from the others be that unique or peculiar or better than. So what does that mean about the pervasive term “special needs?"
Increasingly “special needs” is a term that is outdated.
Outdated as “dial the number” or “rolodex."
Outdated as stewardess, videotape, or AOL.
I am not a person with a disability, at this time. So, I look to the disabled to guide my words, actions, and deeds relative to the concepts of inclusion, accessibility and definitely language.
This month, I am not writing an article, but rather sharing one (linked below) that I read and see the benefit of encouraging others to do the same.
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What do I Say?
By Andie Mosley
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We’re experiencing a time where the language we use matters more than ever. Most know that the “r” word is inappropriate, and if you read the article Patti shared above, you’ll know that “special needs” is no longer encouraged. But, people often skirt around talking to and about people with disabilities in general for fear of saying the wrong thing. As someone with a disability, I can’t speak for us all, but I can share some guidance that trends among disabled self-advocates.
First, and most importantly, disability is not a bad word. It is a part of the human experience. Anyone can become disabled at any point in time, and many do as they age. If we don’t talk about disability, it’s as if we’re pretending it doesn’t exist. The more we talk about disability, the more it is normalized, and the more disabled people are included in all parts of the community. You can’t solve barriers to inclusion without discussing them first.
We’ve discussed person-first versus identity-first language before, so I won’t burden you with that topic in detail. Just remember that if preferences are unknown, it’s best to default to person-first, but if someone uses identity-first, that’s okay too. It’s best to avoid cutesy terminology like “differently abled,” it’s othering to many and for those of us who are adults, patronizing. If you’re talking about people with disabilities in general, you can just say that. When referring to a specific person’s disability, just say their disability. If someone is speaking about me, for instance, they would just say “Andie has autism” or “Andie is autistic.”
When speaking to someone with a disability, remember to speak to them as if you were speaking to anyone else. You can talk to a disabled child like they are a child (because they are), but an adult with an intellectual disability should be addressed as an adult. If someone with a disability is accompanied by a support person, don’t ignore them and only speak to the support person. Having a support person with you is an accommodation, not a lack of independence. There is no reason to feel nervous about addressing their disability, but don’t ask people “what happened?” It’s good practice when hosting an event, meeting, or just a social gathering to ask everyone if there are any accommodations needed. Not all disabilities are obvious, and not all people are open about their disability.
Remember, everyone makes mistakes. The disability community is not asking for perfection, we just ask that you keep trying. Not all disabled people want to take on the labor of teaching these things, but when you find those of us that do, don’t be afraid to ask questions. There is so much more to this than can be included in one newsletter article, but continuing the conversation will make a positive impact on inclusion and belonging.
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Regional Transportation Study |
Come tell your regional transportation partners what you think! CTN and area transportation providers are seeking input on the transportation needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and other who may not drive. They have multiple public meetings listed below.
Each venue is ADA accessible. If you have any other accessibility needs, such as an interpreter, contact Robin at rlovins@rlsandassoc.com or 937-299-5007 at least three days before the meeting date.
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Meeting Dates & Locations
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Thursday, June 29
9am - 10:30am at Trine University Steel Dynamics Bldg., One University Ave., Angola, IN 46703 (elevator located on east side to 3rd floor)
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Wednesday, June 28
1:30pm - 3pm at DeKalb County Council on Aging, 1800 E 7th St., Auburn, IN 46706
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Thursday, June 29
9am - 10:30am at Wells on Wheels, 225 W Water St., Bluffton, IN 46714
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Tuesday, June 27
1:30pm - 3pm at Autumn Trace Senior Communities, 616 Opportunity Dr., Columbia City, IN 46725
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Thursday, June 29
1pm - 2:30pm at Adams County Library, 128 S 3rd St., Decatur, IN 46733
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Wednesday, June 28
1:30pm - 3pm at Huntington University Habecker Dining Commons/ Conference Room C, 502 Lake St., Huntington, IN 46750
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| Tuesday, June 27
9am - 10:30am at AWS Foundation, 5323 W Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 466804
1:30pm - 3pm at The Impact Center, 3420 E Paulding Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46816
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Wednesday, June 28
9am - 10:30am at Community Learning Center, 401 E Diamond St., Kendallville, IN 46755
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Thursday, June 29
1:30pm - 3pm at LaGrange County Council on Aging, 410 E Central Ave., LaGrange, IN 46761
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Wednesday, June 28
9am - 10:30am at Grow Wabash County, 214 S Wabash St., Wabash, IN 46992
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Tuesday, June 27
9am - 10:30am at Health Service Pavilion, 1515 Provident Dr., Warsaw, IN 46580
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Take the transportation needs survey!
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