by Kathie Snow
Many professionals have lost their manners. After inviting me to present a seminar, several different meeting planners have "helpfully" warned me, "Some of our 'consumers' will be there, and they're more like children." Would a coordinator make this announcement during the seminar, when adults with disabilities are in the audience? Don't think so. If a meeting planner feels it's appropriate to warn me about people with disabilities, why isn't she also motivated to warn me about others? As in, "Some of the parents and professionals who are coming to the meeting are real duds." Many educators, especially those in non-inclusive schools, routinely use labels and negative descriptors about their students, both in front of the students and behind their backs. Ditto for many therapists who shamelessly call out "The Down's is coming in this afternoon."
The loss of manners isn't limited to our words. Our actions speak volumes.
