Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Al Gore vs George Bush: the moderate's perspective -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (4390)	11/2/2000 10:24:37 PM
From: epicure	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10042

I think physical handicaps are easier than mental ones. My son has both- and quite honestly, I think society is more tolerant of the physical, than the mental. Of course physically disabled people had to fight to get where they are now. But there is very little stigma now attached to being physically disabled- however the mentally disabled are still regarded with fear and ignorance. I'll tell you a little story. In our community a company called House, Inc wanted to buy a home, near my home, to make into a group home for a small group of disabled adults. There is a ten year waiting period for such homes in our area. House Inc is run by parents of disabled children, and they are a non-profit corp trying to increase the number of homes available. They have primarily retarded adults and autistic adults in their homes. Apparently the neighbors of the new home House Inc was going to buy became alarmed and they circulated the most appalling literature about the adults who would be in the group home. They insinuated that their children would not be safe (when actually it is disabled people who are at much greater risk of violence), they insinuated that the disabled people would be unfit neighbors, and on and on and on. I called House Inc to tell them how very sorry I was- and that if they could find a house near me I would be happy to work for them, to go door to door, to try to help educate the neighbors. It was very sad. And a bit depressing.