Ethnic, racial slurs, or personal comments about individuals
with physical disabilities are examples of behaviors that need to
be stopped. Such behavior embarrasses children, parents and me.
Children who are teased often or victimized by inappropriate
comments or actions suffer tremendously.
Young children often do not realize that this type of behavior is
inappropriate. Like forbidden words, children have a tendency to
pick up and use ethnic and racial slurs. For instance, a younger
child may have heard an older child or adult use words ridiculing
some ethnic group or race. He may then try to use the same word
either to imitate or to see if he gets the same response. Children
pick up words and gestures from television too.
Dealing with a child who is making fun of another person's race,
religion, or disability is a true challenge. Racial and ethnic
slurs and comments based on physical disabilities cannot be
ignored. They are like verbal slaps and are too hurtful or damaging
to the victim to be ignored.
