Retarded man can't ride moped again
 

Orginal Text.

More than anything else, I just want to express that this made me sad.

The last thing I want to do is argue with anyone that if this guy should or should not be on the 'ped.

I think the human spirit suffers a tiny bit from each thing like this. That's all.


BTW: I call BS on the CB interfering with phone service. Call the FCC and prove that, because I don't think so. Haters...

I agree it's sad... but the questions I would have...

Why can't he get a moped liscence?

If he was able to use a CB, would he not be able to use the internet and interact with people in that manner?

Also.. the sister in law's attitude irritates me to some degree... It's like she's looking for other people to provide a need that she sees... Why doesnt she try to do something rather than waiting for it to come to her.... or rather her brother in law - -I don't know this woman _ i don't know the entire story... but I've seen the type before -it's easier to just sit and bitch about a situation than try to be a force for something good to happen... maybe she's taking the first step by using the media... but ...

What about one of those mobility chairs? Couldn't he ride one of those?? Is the moped the only means of transportation he's got?? Can he not walk?

It is sad - I wish there was a way for this 'boy' to get out and enjoy his friends and neighbors without being bothered by things he may not fully comprehend.

It is true that it is partly the church's responsibility to offer help for people who are in need, such as this. BUT it's each individual's responsibility as well and the government is made up of individuals. Refusing help from the government while waiting for some church to step up isn't the way to do it. Also the sister-in-law seemed to be complaining that no church offered a program to help. Is she helpless?? She could join a church, if she hasn't already, take the inititive to start a program and recruit help from the church.

Yes he needs help. Letting him ride his moped without a liscence isn't the only way. Why couldn't he GET a liscence?? If he knows enough to start and drive his moped then why couldn't he take the test with reading assistence?? If he can't then he's taking a chance of getting hurt or causing someone else to get hurt. Not the answer.

What about calling him 'retarded'. That term has been politically incorrect, and socially insenstive for many years now...

Now with pictures...
http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/attachm...tid=4726&stc=1

actually retarded is the proper name isnt it?

It was just overly used by kids as an adjective synonym to dumb... kinda like "gay" i.e. this video game is gay.

however the fact still stands that retarded is a proper term. can we stop for 1 minute in the country worrying about not offending something or wondering if something is or isnt offensive. you will never win. you will ALWAYS offend someone, because some people just arent happy unless they are bitching.

I can easily call the amish "horsefuckers" on here because why? they dont look at the internet. (now i know ill get a bunch of people telling me about different sects of amish, many of whom use modern technology... it was a joke people. much like the bomb on mohammeds head... its a joke. RELAX, settle the fuck down, and stop worrying about words said, pictures drawn, and text written. live your life and stop worrying about not offending someone else... you'll a much happier person.

If we were to stop using words that offend people we would have a very limited vocabulary. Limited to "the" and "a" and those wouldn't last long either.

I can see him having trouble with a written test if he is that mentally retarded. He should give it a try, though. He should be able to ride well enough to pass a test riding it, he would only need to pass the written part by 1 point. If he keeps trying eventually he would probably get it. Even if he has the mental capacity of a young child the questions on the written test aren't anything a person of that mental capacity can't handle (or atleast remember enough temporarily to pass... he would only need to know the answers long enough to pass the test)

Snazzy ride.

No, it's not, at all. In fact, it's very out of date and no therapists or professionals use it.

Instead, we call our clients, Developmentally Disabled. that is the pc term at this current time and has been for some years.


sweetpea

That must have been Charlatan's last ride before they took it away.

So sad. The little guy seems to get so much enjoyment out of it.

LOL


Also, what's wrong with the word retarded?

I agree, his family should be calling the scooter store

Absolutley nothing. It's just a label, which represents a portion of the population that has developmental disabilities. The problem is that the general public's meaning behind that label is more derogatory towards these people than psychologists would like, so they stick on a new label with a positive connotation and it stays for a while until it's widely accepted as the new definition and the public reverts the meaning to the one it's always been.

The most progressive move i've seen to "combat" this sort of thing is by using additive terms "a person with _______" say for instance " a person with schizophrenia", and avoiding negative adjectives like "suffering". It's seperates the person from the disorder/disability and so discourages people making personal attributions based on the disability talk about.

Retarded has always just been the derogatory schoolyard word for being developmentally disabled.

Like calling a homosexual a fag. Or calling a little person a midget (they DO get angry).

Notice the only definition that refers to mental deficit is prefaced by "Often Offensive"

My dad got kicked out of his first highschool for constantly fighting off people who were tormenting his "retarded" sister, my aunt. We were NEVER allowed to use the word... It's always been a faux pas.

And for those who say it's just a label and means nothing... Go to a handicapped person and call them retarded to their face and see if they, or their caretakers, think it's Kosher.

FWIW an improperly mounted CB radio antenna will bleed all over the place from telephones to bare speakers, drive through headsets and even someone's car stereo that isn't even on.

Sorry, rules states that he has to be licensed. Period. If it's fair for him to be unlicensed then it's fair for EVERYONE else to also be unlicensed.

as for communication with others via CB radio, he can of course still have a home base station at home if he wishes to still be on the air.

People are too damn sensitive.


It's not like they called the guy a 'tard. They said he was menatlly retarded. Which is okay. Cause that's exactly what he is. It makes more sense than 'developmentally disabled.' That's too broad of a term.

You obviously have never been next to a 'developmentally disabled' individual when someone calls them mentally retarded... it's a slap in the face to them and these individuals find it hurtful, that's all i was saying...

i don't go out of my way to hurt ppl, so if using a broad term makes my clients more comfortable... then i'm gonna use it.

sweetpea

Okay... here's the deal.


About 20 years ago it was okay to call someone mentally retarded. Somewhere, someone decided that term was hurtful. Told everyone it was hurtful. Now everything thinks it's hurtful. And we can't say it anymore.


Explain to me why it's hurtful. What is it about that word that's so bad?

Thank you doctor. Excellent diagnosis. Can I see your medical license again?

If I call you a jackass because that's exactly what you are, promise not to take offense? Or are you too damn sensitive too? :thumbsup:

By the way, "'tard" is just a term used by people who are too damn lazy or too damn stupid to use the whole word, retarded.

WK, i see where you are coming from,
and yes, it used to be okay to use retarded.. and i know that developmentally disabled will be a negative term in the future probably because it too will develop a negative connotation.

Why is anything hurtful? got me, who the fucks knows.

I'm just playing by the rules, I just know that it bothers my clients, so i don't use the term and encourage others not to.

right! when the word gets marginalized it will too become hurtful...

I also dont see the big deal with mentally retarded. In a very specific sense, it is accurate. That reaction is learned, and instilled by political correctness.

If you think I'm a jack ass and want to call me that? Go right the fuck ahead, I'm just going to laugh at you anyway.

The purpose behind the statement means 1000000 times what the words do.

Is it instilled by "political correctness" or by the people who used the term in a derrogative sense in the first place?

At one time nigger wasn't a word with racist overtones. It simply meant a black person. That changed. It's the amazing thing about language... it changes over time. Don't get so hung up on the fact that definitions shift.

And the motivation behind the statement means as much as well.

You are being informed, gently and non-judgementally, that that is a term that brings Real Pain to Real People. What you choose to do with that knowledge is up to you, and yes, I will make judgements on your (and others') character(s) accordingly.

And if it's negative (i.e., fit's within the parameters I would classify as jack ass), I will likely politely keep it to myself, because to do otherwise would be rude, and could possibly cause you pain, and *I* wouldn't want to do that.
:icare:

You're much nicer than I am. And aparently smarter too, for getting the point across much better than I did.

I'm right with sweetpea -- I think "developmentally disabled" is a very good and respectful term for people who didn't develop mentally and physically as most of the world did. It's respectful to individuals, their families, the professionals who work for them, and there is no pejorative connotation attached. I also like the Real Pain to Real People priniciple that Sultana is talking about.

I managed three residential group homes for adults with developmental diabilities in the 90's.

It starts with respect, or the lack thereof. I would find it hurtful to have people conversing about my status without including me in the conversation, whatever the terminology. Retarded, disabled, challenged, it doesn't matter. Sure, it might be worse (or not) if they're intentionally abusive, but the overriding concern would be that some level of respect is shown. I don't care if you're a doctor, counselor, family, or curious onlooker. Include the patient, client, relative, or whatever their role to you. You may talk in the nicest tones, be fully up-to-date with your pc vocabulary, but the moment you drop "he's developmentally disabled" I'm on the short bus. The note above about using "a person with ..." is the best alternative I've seen here but is still third person. Putting aside name-calling and taught pc worries, the meaning and respect behind the words is what's important, and what eventually ends up changing their meanings through misuse.

Try it on yourself. Put yourself in the position of being helpless in one way or another and having people around you talking about your status using your own best Sunday vocabulary. PC is second. Treating it as a solution unto itself is a backwards approach.

Edit: I deleted something I shouldn't have. My theory is that PC is how people stop feeling guilty about the lack of respect they've shown or felt earlier in life, or that which they know exists in casual society. Many times we don't confront these attitudes/prejudices until someone close is affected. Maybe we just want to call out how different the actual situation is from the stereotypes. Connotations shift with time so perhaps "new and improved" is useful. Most of all, PC makes family and friends comfortable, with a side effect of reminding people to be polite. The patient has larger worries.

As for the guy and his moped, he should be pushed to do what he's able and what he enjoys. As mentioned, that's up to family and friends. Nobody enjoys a loss of freedom, so with the loss of the two hobbies mentioned I hope something's going on behind the scenes besides whining and media contacts.

As others have mentioned above, this is the answer to his problem:
http://www.solmobility.com/images/So...y_Scooter.jpeg

If he can't legally get a license for the moped, he doesn't need one for one of these.

Maybe the "developmentally challenged" will start using the word "retard" like some black people use "nigger" or "nigga". It'll a word that gets reclaimed and used proudly.

Someone should start a trend...

Anyway, he should try and pass the test, first and foremost. They often make exceptions for people who don't speak English, so maybe he can give it a go?

I am kindof surprised that if he is able to putter around on his moped for this long that he couldn't get a licence. I would be surprised if the DMV cannot provide someone to read the test to him if he cannot read it himself. Driving does not require a lot of reading, just a few simple words. Otherwise there's also a bicycle or motorized scooters, or a number of other things to carry him around. How big can his neighborhood be?

Had to add a note with regards to the PC conversation as well. I don't see why one couldn't use the term "LEARNING disabled" if they wanted to use a more specific term than 'developmentally disabled.' As 'learning disabled' is a sub-catagory of those who are mostly physically able to function but not mentally able to learn as well. I usually use the disabled terms instead of the retarded 'because retarded' more or less implies to me an inability to learn at all while 'disabled' to me indicates a difficulty to overcome. I think the term disabled is simply more accurate.

what about a golf cart, do you have to have a license for one of those?

Shani, if I recall, only Florida and Arizona allow golf carts on some public roads with a license. So if he is one of those two states, he is in the same boat.

I believe he's in Alabama. It was originally in a Birmingham Newspaper.

a moped, in my definition, is really just a motorized bicycle, they don't go fast, you can pedal them if you need to... When i was kid, some of the neighborhood spoileder kids had them... and at age 13 you needed a l iscence to ride one on the roads... they also didn't go very fast... which m ade them safer for kids... If a 13 year old can take and pass a test - -surely this guy can...

Thx Cyn.

So far as the term goes, *most* people won't use "retarded" to describe someone. If you choose to, or not, is entirely up to you. I'm not saying either way is better. It's the intention behind it so far as I'm concerned.

My father-in-law's brother is metally disabled. Leonard (my father in law) calls Marvin "retarded." Let me assure you, there's nothing but tenderness in Leonard's voice when he uses that term.

So far as the professional field goes, my wonderful wife manages a team of direct-care providers for people with developmental and mental disabilities. They generally do not use the term "retarded."

To address the correctness of the term: The DSM-IV uses it to describe degrees of mental retardation.

Mild, Moderate, Severe, and Profound mental retardation *are* the correct terms for the condition. Using them or not is up to you.

Link to text.

To address what the sister in law should or should not do:
It is typical (and I'm not saying you're evil if you said it) for those on the outside to suggest the family do more, etc.

However, very few people can relate to the experiance of providing assistance to a mentally retarded individual. It is easily all-consuming, exausting, mentally and emotionally draining.

This is where "It takes a village" rings very true. No man is an island, and no family should be made to be one either.

My thought? It's sad he can't ride his scooter anymore. I wish he could.

Eh - maybe-- my world- we take care of our own...

However, in the village scenario - unless the person in the situation says something - and asks for help -- how are others supposed to know...

There was a book written years ago, about apartheid -- called the power of one.... there was a line in the book that I will never forget -- about how a waterfall begins with a single drop of water... Who cares who that single drop of water is-- it could be the sister in law -a nd other people would follow suit - but to sit back and just wait and say this and that should happen is wrong... Be proactive...

It's sad he can't ride is moped - but it's also scary that he was riding it illegally... There are alternatives...

This shit is developmentally disabled.

I'm waiting for the day when we can't call people assholes, but "positive attitude impaired" or call the crazy bible-thumpers "secularly challenged".

It sucks he can't ride his moped- but there's a reason they require a permit to drive. The tests for the permit exist to prove (to some degree) the mental capability to handle the instrument. I don't care if he's been burnin' up the asphalt (sorry, pavement, asphalt sounds like it has the word ASS in it, and we can't have that) for nigh on 40 years, he's not allowed to. The first time he hits a car, even as accidental as anyone could have an accident, there will be a nightmare. He might die, the family will sue, the OTHER people might be hurt, THEY'LL (rightfully) sue because he's not supposed to be on the road, it's a huge deal.

So, yeah, find him a church group or a Rascal (those little motorized chairs), and let the man be at peace again. A large part of anyone's feelings is the way those they look to are feeling... kids get upset if mom or dad are upset, and these poor folks often look on for the same kind of reassurance. I hope her negativity doesn't filter down to him. What I find odd, though, is her insistence that the government not help, but that churches are somehow required to provide this type of public service. Sure, they do a lot, but are they properly trained to handle these special needs? Most churches don't have a lot of money as it is, so I hope she's planning on volunteering her time to get others to follow suit.

As far as I understood it the sister-in-law did not want to accept government support and expected a CHURCH to step in. While that is fine when the help is there if this man's support group choose to refuse government help then the burden is more on their shoulders to find the help that they DO approve of. "Debra Milton said the responsibility to meet the needs of the mentally retarded should rest with churches and not the government. "The government doesn't owe us anything; this is something we owe to God." "

he should try to take the test... if he cant pass it then he should buy a bicycle

I assume I'm the only one who's presently channelling Pat in "There's Something About Mary."

Pat ... "My real passion is my hobby"
Mary ... "Oh really, what's that?"
Pat ... "I work with retards."

I wonder who wants to assume the liability for this guy in the event of his causing an accident. Is it possible for him to have insurance without a license?

I say get him a bicycle. There's a reason a driver's license is required, not that there aren't plenty of idiot drivers out there who have one.

[QUOTE=Marvelous Marv]I wonder who wants to assume the liability for this guy in the event of his causing an accident. Is it possible for him to have insurance without a license?QUOTE]

No it's not. If he's going to drive a road-licensed vehicle, then he has to have a drivers license. If he wants auto insurance, he has to be licensed to drive. No sane insurance company is going to give auto coverage to an unlicensed driver, regardless of the premium they could collect. It may even be illegal for the carrier to do it in Alabama, although I'm not sure (it is in several other states). Generally speaking, if your license is revoked for whatever reason and your insurance company finds out about it, they have the right to cancel your coverage. Even the insurance companies that only deal in bad/unlucky drivers aren't going to take on the risk of someone who they would be protected everytime that individual got in the car. Almost every liability insurance policy has an exclusion for illegal acts, and guess what this qualifies as.

I'm going to stop being an insurance nerd now. Let me know if you need me to come back out of my hole.

I actually emailed the guy that wrote the article with some of the ideas we were talking about....evidently they passed the email along to the sister and she emailed me back, this was her response

Very cool Shani. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I was all about this guy getting his license until I read what was happening when he had one. Allow me to skip happily down the bleeding heart liberal trail and suggest that this is exactly the kind of situation the entire mental health system is set up for. I'm not suggesting that he move into a group home, but there are ways to support him and allow him to live as independently as he and his family would like. The People First group would be a great start. Alot of the folks I've met that are involved in the organization are very outgoing and personable. He wouldn't be friendless for long.

There's no reason why a local agency couldn't assist him in learning about the responsibility of riding his moped. They could make sure he's well informed of the risks involved and help him ward off the folks who've taken advantage of him in the past. Even help him find a way to pay for insurance, repairs to the moped, gas, etc. Hell, I bet they could find someone to assist him in getting his CB up to snuff so it's not taking out the neighbor's telephone. It's all about his role in the community he lives in and a big part of how supports and services are suppose to be designed now.

Slightly off topic. I've been working in the DD community for over ten years now and I always call people by their names, not their disability. If you use the word retarded as slang, I won't say anything to you, but I'll be mentally dropping your IQ by several points. I don't care if you consider it "PC" or not.

I don't see anything wrong if he is supervised and kept in a closed area where he wont endanger others while he is riding his ped. Everybody is in titled to some sort of fun activity

Damn. If that doesn't sound like the town I grew up in, I don't know what does. I think the only difference is that we had a lady that used to drive her lawn mower to the liquor store.

I hope he can at least ride the rascal.

Pelham hasnt changed a lot since I lived there as a little girl, thats really sad

Thanks Shani... I don't think I've ever seen this sort of thing happen before (were one of our discussions actually reach out and effect the source). Neat.

I replied to her yesterday (and asked about a golf cart too...that wasnt mentioned in my initial email) and this was her response

I've emailed her back to ask her to keep me posted on the organization that was visiting today.

Aren't motorized chairs allowed on the sidewalk? Aren't they just a glamourized motorized wheelchair?

it may be that there are no sidewalks there, its been a LONG time since I lived there, but there were none when I was little. Most times I only see them HERE is in a new subdivision.

First of all, many people are offended by using the word "disabled" to describe ANYONE. Also, kids will catch onto this trend, and soon enough 6th graders will be calling other kids "D-D's" and that term will become offensive. Then, the PC crowd will have to find a new and improved PC way to say it... perhaps "Pre-emptively happy folk". It's a viscious cycle. It only has a negative connotation becuase people LET it. If you mean something in a negative way, almost any word or term can hurt someone's feelings... if that person lets it. Perhaps a good thing to do while working with "retards" "developmentally disbaled" "special needs" or whatever people is to teach them that there is no wrong in being who they are, regardless of what somebody calls them. If they're high functioning enough to be offended, they are high functioning enough to learn to not be. As far as I'm concerned, the therapists and social workers these days that fall into this PC crowd are just enablers.

In short, your clients (note that even in mental facitilities the term "client" is used more often than "patient" now... just to make them feel better) can learn to not be so sensitive to people who DO try to hurt them. If I wanted to upset a "client" of yours, I could certainly do it without calling them retarded.

its too bad he can't read (i'm guessing) , internet would be perfect for him i would think. Talking to people all over the world.

would think walking or a bike or skateboard would be his next option with the moped gone. Guy seems loved by a lot of people.

I dunno about that, studies find that the more people use the internet even to chat with people, the more lonely they are.

I gotta admit it's not the same as meeting in person. I say give him back the moped with a limiter on it (depending on how fast it goes initially)

Meh I still don't think that's that bad, like saying I work with blind people, instead of "visually impaired"

I thought I would share and email I got from Edwards sister today, in case anyone is interested

Just writing to tell you the recent news concerning Edward. He's doing well and has started bowling on thursdays. Happy with what has transpired and adjusting fairly well. Thank you for keeping Edward in your prayers. Debra Milton

word up to my tards!

tard please!

he be my tard!


rofl, boy this could really be a good trend.

Overall, I hope that he gets some help cause of the story- as to the cb- we have that problem here, with a wheelchair bound guy down the street, and it is damn annoying when his cb breaks into our phone line- I dont begrudge him his cb, but get it to code- as to the rest of it, Pc terms annoy the hell out of me, because they change all the damn time, - do we fix the problem, hell no, lets just change the words again, so that for the next six months we can show we cared enough to learn the new "propper term " for someones condition- would'nt that energy be better spent slapping the shit out of people who tease retarded people = oh wait, that would actually be doing something instead of just sitting on our asses talking about it- and speaking of which- kudos to shani for actually reaching out to someone and becoming involved- maybe we could do that more often here, kind of like taking tfp to the next level......

As someone who is "mentally disabled", I learned long ago to ignore people when they are using terms like "deaf" to refer to me in a hurtful way. I think it'd be a lot easier to teach this technique to others who face this sort of behavior, than to somehow change the way mean people behave, in a direct manner. Like they say... ignore the monster and he disappears. But, possibly easier said than done.

As for this guy.. well.. I don't think there is really enough information to judge a good solution to his problem, but I agree his sister should be proactive towards finding one. It really depends on what his needs are and what kind of resources are available, etc. Public transit might be a good option, for instance.