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Word Games - Which words are politically correct?

In today's politically correct world, when dealing with people and their physical attributes, sometimes it’s hard to decide as to the 'right' thing to say.  All we know is that you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

When referring to someone with a foot or a hand that is not the same as everyone else, some of the following terms are frequently used:

While all these might be factually correct, we prefer the term different.  Not better, not worse, just different.  Is it a big deal?  Not really.  It’s just that we like to take the negative connotation away.  

Sometimes it is hard to decide as to what is the right thing to say.  When comparing children with limb differences to those without limb differences, how can we keep from saying that those without limb differences have normal limbs?  Is it wrong to say it as such?  Absolutely NOT.  Some children’s limbs formed normally and some did not – they are different.  But what we do ask is that we don’t say good vs. bad.  Or damaged vs. non-damaged. Or right vs. wrong.

Different is just different.

What is acceptable to say can be downright confusing.  We have the Special Olympics, but some people with mental disabilities don’t want to be called ‘special’.  We have handicapped parking spaces but some people who qualify don’t like to be called handicapped. We have laws to keep from discriminating against people with disabilities, but some people with limb differences don’t want to be called disabled. 

When all else fails, you might find this bit of advice to be helpful.  Just refer to ANY limb as to what it is: right arm, left leg, or whatever.  For smaller children, you might refer to the ‘little’ limb as the little arm or little hand. Don’t be afraid to talk about it, and don’t pretend that it isn’t there.  Whatever you do, don’t think of it as negative and nothing you say or do will come across that way.  And please don’t let the limb difference define the person. Don’t think of him or her as a disabled child, he or she is a child with a limb difference.

Parents can learn a lot from this in teaching their children who have normal limbs when they encounter someone who has a limb difference. Kids will be curious. Answer their questions factually and honestly.  Remind them that we are all different.  The limb difference is like having different color hair or being extremely tall or having a big nose. It is not sad, it is not scary, and it is nothing to be ashamed of.

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