MOCKING THE DISABLED

I have heard many stories, of how the disabled population is mocked behind their backs.  Some of the mockers are the staff workers themselves.  Some staff, whether it’s Camp Workers, Group Home Workers, School Workers, or Aides sometimes make remarks behind the disabled person’s back.  More often then not the remark is loud enough for the disabled person to hear.

Sometimes people in public make fun of the developmentally disabled also, but we often rationalize it is because of their ignorance or immaturity.

Some of the people who make fun of the disabled do not realize that just because the person is impaired mentally, physically, or can not speak does not mean that they do not understand they are being ridiculed.

Many developmentally disabled people are very smart and some are brilliant.  Even children with Autism have feelings regardless of being said to have lack of emotions.  When you know the person being bullied, you can sense their despair over comments made. 

It may take the disabled time to digest the input, but talking about them negatively impacts the disabled person emotionally.  They often cry inside.  They have internal tears.  Some can outwardly cry, or cry to themselves at night with the sad memory of the day.

People and staff should have more consideration before making jerky remarks that they think are funny to other people or staff.  They should put themselves in the disabled person’s shoes to understand how they suffer emotionally not only with their disability, but with mockery from others.