The Effect of Mental Disability Hate Speech

By: Joanna Pantelides April 11, 2014 To the lady living at this address: I also live in this neighborhood and have a problemyou have a kid that is mentally handicapped and you selfishly put your kid outside everydaythat noise he makes is dreadful! It scares the hell out of my normal children!!! Crying babies, music and even barking dogs are normal sounds in a residential neighborhood, he is notpersonally, they should take whatever non retarded body parts he possesses and donate it to sciencedo the right thing and move or euthanize him! Either way, we are all better off!!! Sincerely, one pissed off mother!!! 1

Hate speech is constructed by those who are a part of a majority and generally direct their messages toward those who are a part of a minority.2 The hate messages are intended to demean and sometimes harm the targets for reasons they perceive as valid.3 Anyone can be a target of hate speech, some because they are of a certain race, nationality, or religion and others because they are of a certain gender, age, sexual orientation or disabled in some way.4 Disability hate speech is a form of verbal and nonverbal expression that degrades, oppresses, or encourages violence against someone because of he or she is mentally, physically, emotionally or developmentally disabled.5 Retarded is a word that many people use in our society today to degrade someone or something and imply that he/she/it is foolish, or stupid. 6 When originally introduced to the English language though, the term mentally retarded was simply a medical term with a clinical connotation for individuals with below average intellectual functioning, limiting their every day function.7 When used as the slang term it has come to be, the word retarded fosters the belief that those with mental disabilities are subhuman.8 Six to seven and a half million of the general American population has a mental, physical, emotional or developmental disability.9 Disabilities first appear in children before the age of 18, at birth or later in early childhood, and more times than not, carry into adulthood.10 A diagnosis is made if an individual has an intellectual functioning level sub average (an IQ score below 70-75).11 Intellectual functioning levels

are determined by standardized tests that measure ones ability to reason in terms of mental age (IQ).12 A diagnosis is also made if an individual has significant limitations in two or more adaptive skill areas.13 Adaptive skills include communication skills such as the ability to produce and understand language; social skills such as home-living skills, the use of community resources, heath, safety, leisure self-care and selfdirection; and functional academic skills such as reading, writing, arithmetic, and work skills. Adaptive skills are needed for everyday function.14 Children with disabilities reach developmental milestones such as walking and talking later than the general public.15 Mental, physical, emotional or developmental disabilities vary in severity, but are classified in four different degrees by The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV): mild, moderate, severe and profound, based on the functioning level of the individual.16 Though there are individuals with various types of mental, physical, emotional or developmental disabilities that are targets of hate speech, this issue brief will only focus on hate speech directed towards those with autism and Down syndrome. Autism is a developmental disorder that causes problems such as an inability to focus attention on very few topic areas, repetition of phrases and limited speech; difficulty interacting with people, trouble making friends, difficult reading facial expressions and a lack of eye contact; and repetitive motor movements and behaviors such as hand flapping and repeating sounds or phrases. 17 Down syndrome is an genetic intellectual disability that causes impairments to conceptual adaptive functioning such as language, reading, writing, math, reasoning, knowledge, and memory; social adaptive functioning such as empathy, social judgment, interpersonal communication skills, the ability to follow rules and to make and retain friendships; and practical adaptive functioning such as self-management in areas such as personal care, job responsibilities, money management, recreation, and organizing school and work tasks.18 There is no single treatment for individuals with autism or Down syndrome, and though these physical and intellectual disabilities cannot be outgrown, early and continuous intervention can improve everyday functioning.19

The Stigma of Mental Disabilities

The general public makes common assumptions about what a developmental and intellectual disability means, which molds their perceptions, beliefs and attitudes and in turn fosters hate speech. One 2

common assumption is that disabilities are located solely in an individuals biology and is accepted uncritically as an independent variable.20 This assumption facilitates the conclusion that the disability and the person are synonymous and that disabled people are the cause of other peoples attitudes and behaviors towards them.21 Some experiments conducted by several social psychologists verify that individuals with disabilities arouse anxiety and discomfort in others and supported their hypothesis that nondisabled people react differently to people with disabilities than they do to people without them.22 This assumption portrays disability as the variable that predicts the outcome of social interaction when, in fact, social contexts shape the meaning of a disability in a persons life. 23 Another common assumption is that disabled people are perceived as victims who manage their suffering by self-blame and by reinterpreting their suffering in search for a positive meaning or by denying that they are truly suffering.24 What needs to be stated instead, is that disability, though never wanted or wished for, may not be entirely as tragic as presumed.25 Social psychologists also mention that though it is assumed that the disability itself creates the victimizing experience, an emphasis must also be put on the subsequent reactions that disabled people experience due to social treatments and responses to their disability.26 The last common assumption is that disabilities are key aspects of the individuals self -concept, self-definition and social comparisons and group references.27 Many researchers make the claim that disabled individuals consistently make downward social comparisons in order to come to terms with just how bad their situations are and to preserve their self-esteem.28 This claim makes the assumption that marked people incorporate their marks as central to their self-definition.29 The author of the article Disability Beyond Stigma, though, mentions that some researchers fail to remember that a persons disability doesnt consume his or her life and that a boy with autism for example, is as likely to compare himself with other boys his age, other boys in his class, and other boys in his family, etc.30 A disabled individuals mark may be completely irrelevant to how he or she defines himself or herself, especially when they live in contexts that are supportive.31 Now that the common assumptions about developmental and intellectual disabilities have been established, it is also worth mentioning why these perceptions persist and the functions they play in our society. Many researchers claim that the idea and recognition of disabilities elicit feelings of vulnerability and death.32 This claim suggests non-disabled people almost have this wanting for disabled people to 3

suffer in order to confirm that the normal state is as good and important as the normal think it is.33 Because disabilities are perceived as untreatable, thus uncontrollable, and our society is very control seeking of life, this lends to the perception of disabilities as a loss of control in order to conceal the fact that many aspects of normal peoples lives can at times be out of control. 34 People with disabilities are also perceived as ever in need of help, social support, and as suffering victims.35 If our society thinks of an individual with a disability as needy and dependent, it in turn can view individuals without disabilities as strong, independent, and autonomous.36 The perception those with disabilities as needy and as having a loss of control in their lives allows those without disabilities to perceive themselves as more independent and as having more control in their lives then may be the case.37 The perceptions of people with disabilities as different and strange further emphasize the stigma that our society holds of developmentally and intellectually disabled being not quite human.38 The use of the slang defined word retarded simply reinforces the perception and belief that this group of people is inherently less, and that being compared to them is insulting.39 Disability hate speech in all its forms, is wrong, especially those so severe they cause individuals with disabilities to want to give up living. This issue brief does not try to limit the freedom of expression, but rather educate the public about autism and Down syndrome, develop participation in the reduction and levels of acceptance of mental disability hate speech, and raise awareness of mental disability hate speech and the risks it poses.40

The Effects of Mental Disability Hate Speech

Ever growing misconceptions about mental disabilities and the people that have them lend to more and more insensitive and cruel hate speech. Free speech is legal in the United States of America, and despite common public misconceptions, there isnt a hate speech exception to the First Amendment.41 Hate speech is a form of speech and is protected, though not condoned, under the First Amendment. 42 The perceptions our society holds affect the language we use, the language we use affects the attitudes we hold and the attitudes we hold affect our actions.43

The many incorrect perceptions in our society have reinforced the use of disability hate speech. The word retarded has become such common vocabulary is it thrown around in sentences that are widely used to mean that someone or something is stupid or foolish.44 The comparison of people with mental disabilities to people that are simply being stupid is seen as an acceptable insult .45 Not only is disability hate speech used in our everyday lives, it is also used by the media and celebrities. Google, for example has only recently eliminated die as a search suggestion for autism.46 Previously, typing, "Autistic people should...." into the search engine produced four "auto-complete" suggestions: that they "be killed," "die," or "be exterminated."47 Comedian Ricky Gervais has offended individuals with Down syndrome by repeating the word mong on Twitter, luckily only to be called a cunt by some of his 650,000 followers.48 Ann Coulter, most famously known as being the author of ten New York Times bestsellers, once said that The only people who will be offended are too retarded to understand it, in response to criticism of her recent tweet which included the word retard.49 The use of mental disability hate speech such as the word retarded reinforces the attitude that disabled life is subhuman and without value.50 An example of the effect on attitudes is a hate letter that the family of a child with autism received from an anonymous neighbor.51 As I have already shared, this is the gist of the letter: To the lady living at this address: I also live in this neighborhood and have a problemyou have a kid that is mentally handicapped and you selfishly put your kid outside everydaythat noise he makes is dreadful! It scares the hell out of my normal children!!! Crying babies, music and even barking dogs are normal sounds in a residential neighborhood, he is notpersonally, they should take whatever non-retarded body parts he possesses and donate it to sciencedo the right thing and move or euthanize him! Either way, we are all better off!!! Sincerely, one pissed off mother!!!52 This letter is an accurate depiction of the many strongly held attitudes people in our society have. These attitudes argue oppression of the privileged by claiming that able and normal people have a right to not be forced into the presence or even existence of people with disabilities.53 These attitudes threaten violence against disabled people and justify it with the logic that they should either keep quiet and act normal or stop existing altogether because they are an inconvenience to normal people .54 The attitude that disabled life is subhuman and without value affects peoples actions and is positively correlated to hate crimes against them.55 Because mentally disabled people are perceived as atypical and incapable of conforming to normal societal demands, many non -disabled people hold the

belief that they should die.56 This sort of attitude is what justifies, for many, hate crimes such as abuse, torture, rape and murder.57 Erica Wigstrom and Cesar Ruiz are the parents of then 17-month old, Lucas Ruiz.58 Lucas, who was born with Down syndrome and a heart defect, died of alcohol poisoning.59 Ruiz put rum in his sons feeding tube just days before his son was scheduled to have heart surgery, in an attempt to end his life.60 Though the poisoning caused seizures, Lucas still lived.61 Wigstrom, only days later, injected Germ-X hand sanitizer (whose active ingredient is ethyl alcohol) into her childs feeding tube, elevating his blood alcohol content to .280, nearly 4.5 times the legal limit in Louisiana, and killing him.62 Though the parents originally justified their actions by saying that they wanted to ease their childs suffering, at the burial Wigstrom said: I have no more tears to shed because my kid is so cool God wanted him. I mean if anybody is lucky its me for being his mom. Im not going to cry.63 Many parents across the country also want to end their mentally disabled childrens lives, and feel that it would be some sort of accomplishment or honor to end their pain.64 Parents like these argue that if they were in their childrens positions, they wouldnt want to live in that way, and so want to kill them mercifully to ease their pain or suffering.65 What they dont see though, is that as challenging it is to raise a child with a disability; it is even more challenging to be that child. Parents want to perform hate crimes against their own children essentially because it is too much work to keep them alive.66 Such language, such attitudes and such actions only reinforce the concept that disabled life is not a quality of life worth living.67

Potential Ways to Educate the Public

Though there isnt much that can be done to stop people from using mental disability hate speech because it is a form of free speech and protected under the First Amendment, starting at the root of the problem is a great strategy to combat disability hate speech.68 Common perceptions are created by a lack of knowledge and ignorance about developmental and intellectual disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome. One way to make our society more knowledgeable is through non-profit organizations such as Autism Speaks, National Down Syndrome Society, and the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign. Organizations like these represent and advocate for the voices that arent heard. Autism Speaks is the worlds leading autism science and advocacy organization.69 It is devoted to increasing awareness of and advocating for the need of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.70 Each 6

April 2, Autism Speaks celebrates Light It Up Blue in commemoration of the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day.71 This unique worldwide event kicks-off Autism Awareness Month and helps raise awareness about autism.72 In honor of Light It Up Blue, many iconic landmarks around the world such as the Empire State Building in New York City, the Sears Tower in Chicago and the Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia, as well as bridges, museums, hotels, homes and communities light up in bright blue. 73 World Autism Awareness Day is annually celebrated on April 2 and includes activities to develop and increase global knowledge about autism spectrum disorders.74 WAAD celebrates the unique talents of people with autism and is a day where they are welcomed and embraced.75 Autism Speaks fosters not only national but international awareness about autism spectrum disorders.76 The National Down Syndrome Society holds an annual day Buddy Walk on Washington advocacy conference.77 This event brings the Down syndrome community together and allows advocates to meet with members of Congress and make an effort to advance education, research and healthcare for people with Down syndrome.78 The Spread the Word to End the Word campaign asks people to pledge to stop using the word retard or retarded.79 The r-word as it is referred to, is exclusive, offensive and derogatory.80 The campaign aims to be a starting point toward creating more accepting attitudes and environments for all people, and asks people to pledge today, to use respectful, people -first language.81 The Spread the Word to End the Word campaign holds monthly events with the objective to increase awareness of the r-word.82 All the proceeds made at the events are given to the Special Olympics.83 The damage that can be done to a society by disability hate speech should be clear to everyone. 84 If our society is more knowledgeable about disability hate speech and its effects, the amount of people that partake will decrease. If our society is more knowledgeable about disability hate speech, the perception of people with mental disabilities as less and subhuman will decrease. If our society is more knowledgeable about disability hate speech, we will become aware that having a mental disability makes us just as different from one another as skin color and hair color do, and because of this, all life should be treated with value and respect.

Endnotes

Autistic Hoya, How They Hate Us, Blogger, available at: http://www.autistichoya.com/2013/08/how-they-hate-us.html (last accessed April 2014).
1

Learning From a Legacy of Hate, What is Hate Speech? Learning From a Legacy of Hate, availab le at: http://www.bsu.edu/learningfromhate/hatespeech.htm (last accessed April 2014).
2 3 4 5 6

Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.

Spread the Word to End the Word, Why Pledge, Spread the Word to End the Word, available at: http://www.r-word.org/rword-why-pledge.aspx#.U0WNelxCdSX (last accessed April 2014).
7 8 9

Ibid. Ibid.

Farlex, Mental Retardation, The Free Dictionary, available at: http://medicaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/mental+retardation (last accessed April 2014).
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.

American Psychiatric Association, Autism Spectrum Disorders, American Psychiatric Association, available at: http://www.psychiatry.org/autism (last accessed April 2014). American Psychiatric Association, Intellectual Disability, American Psychiatric Association, available at: http://www.psychiatry.org/intellectual-disability (last accessed April 2014).
18 19 20

Ibid.

Michelle Fine and Adrienne Asch, Disabilitiy Beyond Stigma: Social Interaction, Discrimination, and Activism, Journal of Social Issues, available at: http://sk8es4mc2l.search.serialssolutions.com/?url_ver=Z39.882004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Journal%20of%20Social%20Issues &rft.atitle=Disability%20Beyond%20Stigma%3A%20Social%20Interaction%2C%20Discrimination%2C%20and%20Activism&rft.v olume=44&rft.issue=1&rft.spage=3&rft.epage=21&rft.date=1988-04-01&rft.issn=0022-4537&rft.eissn=15404560&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fwiley.com%3AOnlineLibrary (last accessed April 2014).
21 22

Ibid. Ibid.

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.

Council of Europe, The Goals of the Campaign, Council of Europe, available at: http://www.nohatespeechmovement.org (last accessed April 2014). Cortez Journal, Hate Speech and the First Amendment, Cortez Journal, available at: http://www.cortezjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130208/Columnists13/130209831/0/Columnists16/Hate-speech-andthe-First-Amendment (last accessed April 2014).
41 42 43 44 45 46

Ibid. http://www.r-word.org/r-word-why-pledge.aspx#.U0ST2lxCdSW. Ibid. Ibid.

Kathleen OBrien, Google Eliminates Die Search Suggestion for Autism, True Jersey, available at: http://www.nj.com/parenting/index.ssf/2013/02/google_changes_policy_for_auti.html (last accessed April 2014).
47

Ibid.

Louise Bolotin, Disability Hate Speech Has no Place Anywhere-Not Even Online, The Guardian, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/nov/09/disability-hate-speech-online (last accessed April 2014).
48

Ann Coulter, Ann Coulter, Ann Coulter, available at: http://www.anncoulter.com/my_life.html (last accessed April 2014). Alyssa, Calling People the R Word, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, available at: http://autisticadvocacy.org/2012/10/callingpeople-the-r-word/ (last accessed April 2014).
49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58

http://www.r-word.org/r-word-why-pledge.aspx#.U0ST2lxCdSW. http://www.autistichoya.com/2013/08/how-they-hate-us.html. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.

Dave Andrusko, Mother Charged with Poisoning and Killing Her Baby, Who Had Down Syndrome, Life News, available at: http://www.lifenews.com/2014/03/14/mother-charged-with-poisoning-and-killing-her-baby-who-had-down-syndrome/ (last accessed April 2014).
59 60 61 62 63 64

Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.

Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, Killing the Disabled, Psychology Today, available at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/disturbed/201206/killing-the-disabled (last accessed April 2014). Cassy Fiano, The Dr. Phil Show Advocates for Mery Killing of People With Disabiltiies, Live Action News, available at: http://liveactionnews.org/dr-phil-show-advocates-for-mercy-killing-of-people-with-disabilities/ (last accessed April 2014).
65 66 67

Ibid. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/disturbed/201206/killing-the-disabled.

http://www.cortezjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130208/Columnists13/130209831/0/Columnists16/Hate-speechand-the-First-Amendment.
68

Autism Speaks, About, Autism Speaks, available at: http://liub.autismspeaks.org/about?utm_source=%20liub.autismspeaks.org&utm_medium=textlink&utm_content=Learn%20More&utm_campaign=LIUB%20Frontpage (last accessed April 2014).
69

10

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77

Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.

National Down Syndrome Society, History, National Down Syndrome Society, available at: http://www.ndss.org/BuddyWalk/About-the-National-Buddy-Walk-Program/History/ (last accessed April 2014).
78 79 80 81 82 83 84

Ibid. http://www.r-word.org/r-word-why-pledge.aspx#.U0SgwFxCdSU. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.

Decan Herald, Stop Hate Speeches, Decan Herald, available at: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/396047/stop-hatespeeches.html (last accessed April 2014).

11