Is the word "handicapped" offensive?

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

Now, as a special education teacher. Terminology has changed to become more "person centered". To call someone handicapped, disabled, or special is not something that is smiled upon in the SPED profession. An example of this is: Instead of saying, "Johnny is autistic" you would say "Johnny has autism". As it was stated in the excerpt--a person is not defined by their exceptionality. Their exceptionality is just another trait they have. And, if you noticed--I don't use the word "disability", instead "exceptionality". The word disability implies that there is something someone can't do. Most times, it's not that these people CAN'T do it. They just do it a different way than most of the people around them would.

The "person-centric" change is a good one, and one that is simple and easy to implement - in language studies, it's much more effective language too, for what you're trying to accomplish with the descriptor. It's win/win.

However, use of terms like "exceptionality" is the opposite, in my mind - it's shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic in its truest form. There is nothing innate about the word "disability" or "handicap" or whatever that gives them connotation beyond their denotation - it's not an etymological property. It's a property of the way society at large views people who have a [exceptionality/disability/problem/challenge/whatever]. By changing the word, you're simply putting that word to the test next, once it becomes in heavy use - think "retarded" going to "mentally handicapped" going to "challenged" going to "special" and how each still carries stigma with it.

Is it really an improvement on the whole, or a temporary fix until language catches up? It seems much more the latter, and that's (not coincidentally) why I don't think "handicapped" should be viewed as offensive. In fact, it could be argued that all of these attempts to create a new, specialized, non-offensive language for various afflictions, maladies, lifestyles and challenges serves only to separate them more from "everybody else."