Sorry you see it like that mate, but as the parent of a disabled child, I can tell you that it's a highly offensive word and there's no such thing as " casual " use of it.
Make of that what you will x
* I'd also like to say, that from via previous PM's with
@widnesblue that he does some great work with kids from disadvantaged backgrounds and I'm sure he didn't mean it to offend.
I didn't mean to offend, really didn't. It was a term I used loosely, and didn't think about peoples background and people would find it highly offensive. If I've disrespected anyone, I hold my hands up and admit I was been a prat. My deepest apologies to everyone I've offended.
Working with kids, with learning difficulties, different disabilities, I should of known better. I know the effects it has on them when people insult them.
The one thing I've realised over the years is that young people with disabilities are some of the greates kids to work with.
The is a kid I'm teaching at the minute who has cerebral palsy. He's took to plastering like a duck to water. Hopefully in the next year he can go on and have a succesesful career in plastering. A couple of kids, I teach have autism, Aspergers, ADHD, Learning difficulities. In the next 2 months, they will all achieve awards in construction, 3 of them will achieve level 1 and level 2 diplomas in Construction, health and safety, Manuel Handling and job interview skills. They are all great kids with bright futures, I'd probably react the same way some of you lot have, if someone called them that.
This is me not trying to earn brownie points, just apologising for insulting people.
Hopefully Ross stays, if not, we will move on. C.O.Y.B.
Jon, aka widnesblue. X