This article originally appeared in Vol. 1 No. 4 (Aug., 1993) of the Facilitated Communication Digest, [p. 10].

WHY RETARDS ARE SAD IN THIS WORLD

Retards need love just like everyone else who live in this world. Queer people to bad people treat retards the same. Why do people treat them poorly? They have love in their hearts like everyone else. Retards beat the man who are beating them at the same time. Why do people treat retards bad? Are they afraid? They are afraid retards eat them. They are afraid retards hurt, eat and will kill them. Eat, eat, eat! Retards will eat them. Queer people to bad people will question me about this. World needs retards. Yes! Retards, retards, retards! You can say it, too. Retards. Go ahead and say it. Go ahead and shout the word. Retard is who I am.

Our daughter Elana was 13 years old when she began communicating with facilitation. Some of her first words cry out against the world's crude perceptions and limiting views. Here she transforms an ugly label into a powerful statement of self affirmation. (Stephen Connor, facilitator and parent.)