An

¶ … hear the word 'disability' is someone in a wheelchair or someone whose mobility is otherwise restricted because of his or her physical condition. Upon further reflection, I would also consider someone who is blind or hard of hearing to be 'disabled.' Of course, not all disabilities are visible to the naked eye. For example, someone who is epileptic can be said to have a disability, even though when he or she is not having a seizure he or she seems normal. People who are autistic, particularly those who are high-functioning, might not seem to be disabled at all, until intimate relationships develop with the person and their social deficits become evident.

Of course, the term 'disability' is itself problematic, given that it has been taken to mean 'inferior' rather than simply 'different from most abled persons.' Everyone has a disability in some shape or fashion, even though not everyone has an IEP.

Question Box 2 on

Because of growing awareness about the discriminatory nature of the word 'retarded,' I have seldom heard it articulated on television in recent years, given that it is not considered 'PC.' However, children on the playground still use the term frequently, usually to refer to one another when they do something foolish. Unfortunately, the use of the word 'retarded' in such a manner reinforces the conception that developmentally challenged individuals are somehow inferior, given that the implication is that it is 'bad' to be referred to as retarded. Even people who have developmental disabilities often have great strengths, such as their interpersonal qualities, devotion to a particular subject matter, or other skills that they learn.

Chapter 2

Question Box 3 on pg. 7

The first thoughts that come to my mind when I list the qualities of a child with ADHD are 'difficult' and 'frustrating.' Students with ADHD, even when they are receiving cognitive behavioral therapy and are medicated can be very difficult to control within the classroom. Not only are they unruly themselves, they can also instigate (however unintentionally) bad behavior in other children.

Question Box 4 on pg. 14