Results of a new survey, released today by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, suggest that adults are perpetuating and normalising bullying behaviour by using discriminatory language in their everyday conversations, with some directing abusive words at disabled people or those with special educational needs (SEN)
The findings, launched today to mark the start of Anti-Bullying Week, show that four in ten (44%) adults use the words 'spaz', 'spastic', 'retard' or 'mong' in 'casual' conversation; half of whom justify doing so as part of 'banter'. In addition, 65% hear others using these words in conversation, with over a third (37%) witnessing them being used online.
The survey also showed that more than 1 in 10 adults have directed these words at a disabled person/person with SEN.
Most adults are ignorant of the meaning of offensive bullying language. When asked if they knew what these words meant and where they originated:
- over half of adults surveyed didn't know the history of the word 'mong'
- over a third didn't know where the word 'spastic' came from
- with a quarter unaware of the origins of the word 'retard'.
After reading the origins of the words, with an explanation that they are offensive to disabled people/people with SEN, over a quarter (28%) said they would still continue to use the words.
For more information see http://www.ncb.org.uk/news/1-in-10-adults-have-used-abusive-language-towards-a-disabled-person
Disability Rights UK has produced a number of Let's Stop Disability Hate Crime guides which you can download.