Empowered Parent
Kids: Andrew, age 14
Works: Writer, co-owner, Assistive Resources, regular contributor to The Morning Blend
What I like best about being a mom: Showing Andrew the world, teaching him to dream big and watching him grow into a good human being. I still get a thrill from hearing the daily, “I love you Mom.”
Least favorite part of being a mom: Not enough time in the day to “do it all” and watching the years and childhood roll by way too fast!
Famous for: Rolling with it – Raising a child with a disability can be like a roller coaster ride – highs and lows and times when your stomach feels like it's in your chest. During those dips, if I am productive and positive, I know that soon there is another ride to the top.
Stop the "R" Word
By Linda Mulholland
Wednesday, Apr 1 2009, 10:09 AM
Sometimes we don't mean what we say. We have all said something hurtful without thinking and possibly hurt a friend's feelings in the process. Even President Obama said something he didn't mean. It just slipped out - comparing his inept bowling to a Special Olympics moment was a moment that I am sure he would like to forget. My son, who still thinks the president is a good guy - can't believe that a president could say such a thing. Andrew has started talking about all of the things that he and his friends with disabilities CAN do to try to offset the president's gaffe. Not a bad plan. This is a good learning moment for everyone. At the end of the day there was a lot of chatter for Special Olympics and people with disabilities. From a PR standpoint what was bad for Obama was great for special needs. Never have I seen so much press for special needs. The point is that the slip-up was too easy and words do hurt, even if it wasn't meant as a diss on people with intellectual disabilities. As an educated society, we should match our language with our growing acceptance and tolerance of physical and/or intellectual differences. Now is the time to continue the conversation that President Obama inadvertantly started a few weeks ago. Let's make it a pact to watch what we say and show respect for people with differences. That is why I support the Special Olympics cause to stop the use of the "R" word. It is another example of a meaningless hurtful word. Join Special Olympics Chairman, Tim Shriver and 34,090 people and sign the petition to stop the "R" word. It is time to show RESPECT - that is a better "R" word, I think.
