In New York — one of the last states to retain the word “retardation” in a department title — advocates are split on efforts to eliminate a term some consider offensive.
In the last twenty years nearly every state has removed the phrase “mental retardation” from the names of state agencies servicing those with developmental disabilities. Today, only New York and Rhode Island retain the old vocabulary. And advocates are pushing a measure through Congress, which would replace “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” in some parts of federal government.
However, as New York legislators embark on their second effort in a year to alter the name of the state’s Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, change is not a certainty.
Last year a similar effort stalled after passing the state Senate because some older advocates in the disability community felt that changing the department’s name to the “Developmental Disabilities Services Office” was not specific enough. Further, some worried that a name change would alter the services provided, though state officials say that’s not the case.
In large part, however, self-advocates are applauding efforts to change the name, saying that the word “retarded” is offensive. A new proposal which recently passed through committees in the state Senate and Assembly would alter the department title to”Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities,” reports The New York Times. To read more click here.
I think it is ridiculous to ban this term. It has its place. If used in proper context it should not be offensive. My two sons have mental retardation. It is ok to say that. It is not ok to state when annoyed that something is retarded or someone is retarded. People need to chill out. Soon we won’t be able to say anything at the rate we are banning words and phrases.
I work for an agency under the oversight of OMRDD. In this case, I don’t think the state wants to “ban” the term…just replace it in the department title. That being said, NY gov’t is well-know for not getting much done…even at this level, so the fact that only NY and RI haven’t made the change doesn’t surprise me. I agree with fxmommy that we cannot, nor should we ban terms. “Idiot”, “moron” and “imbecile” were once terms specific to this field but now are used more generally. My sense is that that is the way “retard” is going, too, and its impact regarding individuals with ID will someday be a footnote.
I’m with you FXMOMMY….I have taught children with all sorts of disabilities for 25 years! There are so many terms out there but when you say, mental retardation, people understand what you mean. If you say disabled, intellectually disabled, mentally disabled (which is very confusing) or cognitively disabled, you really could mean many things. People put bad connotations on terms, the terms are not bad.
Some of what jirrgang posted is part of why the term, in fact, does need to be removed from medical and public forums. Intellectual disability terminology requires a more individualized approach and makes a place for strengths while accommodating for weaknesses. Convenience and/or generalizations about people with a variety of strengths and weaknesses, are not good enough reasons to use negative descriptors and the resulting lowered expectations. By thinking that people know what you mean when you say mental retardation, shows that those individuals have been stereotyped, which accentuates discrimination. One would think that after 25 years, a seasoned teacher would be on top of the list of advocates for individual strengths, not sterotypes and lowered expectations. It is most assuredly time for People-first language and the higher expectations and personalized services for each person with an intellectual disability.