I had a few very interesting experiences in the past few weeks that I wanted to share.

First, some background. I work as a subcontractor for the state as a part of the Department of Mental Retardation Services. We work with people diagnosed with "Mental Retardation". As part of the paperwork of all the people I work with, it states that they are mentally retarded. This is standard language and standard procedure and not in any way intended to be derogatory. It is meant to be explanatory.

But I had this concept challenged the other day. I had a client who was very upset when I arrived at his home. Apparently that week someone had made a comment that upset him. HE asked to talk to me about this and we went walking outside where we could talk privately. This client stated to me that his staff had called him "stupid, dumb, idiot, mentally challenged" I of course recognized to him that this is not right, but I asked him to clarify what exactly his staff said. He replied "She said I am mentally challenged". She used a label...one that is not totally inappropriate. Mentally challenged, Mental retardation, developmentally disabled...this is what we are instructed to call people with diminished mental capacity.

I tried to explain this to my client. He is very smart, regardless of his diagnosis. I tried to explain that we work for the department of mental retardation and that this label is part of his paperwork. He looked at me and loudly stated, "I am not retarded...I am not a retard! I DO NOT want to be called that. THey can't call me that!" He did not want this label that he was given. He understood all the connotations that this label holds.
This experience really made me think about how quick we in the mental health field are to label people in an attempt to understand them, regardless of how we may be boxing them in. People read the labels and think people are less capable, dangerous, scary, disgusting, etc. before they even get a chance to meet them.

I had another experience later this same week of a different client showing me pictures she had taken of large and beautiful brick homes in our town. She flipped through them, pointing out different points of interest. Then she came to a special picture. She held it out to me and said, "THis house is empty...I want to live there!" SHe had a dream. A dream of living independantly in her own beautiful home. She had a very normal dream, but this is not an option for her. I did not try to explain that, however. Her dream was too beautiful to shatter. I want that dream to come true for her.

I learned a lot between these two instances about my clients. What they want and who they want to be. Don't be quick to judge people. This is one of the best things about my job...seeing people with potential and helping them find ways of reaching that potential.

And, of course, learning from my clients. They have a lot to teach, and it is a wonderful and humbling way to learn. Sometimes, after certain sessions, I think they have helped me more than I have helped them.


Check out this site for more info on this topic.
http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/peoplefirstlanguage.htm