New name to be announced for Lucas County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
This in via e-mail:
Self-Advocates Successful in Removing the Label “Mental Retardation”
What: News Conference
Why: To announce a new name for the Lucas County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
When: Friday, JULY 31, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Board of MRDD Administrative Offices, 1154 Larc Lane, Toledo 43614
Who: John Trunk, Superintendent, plus several self-advocates who will tell their personal stories
Background: Until just recently, Ohio was one of only six states that used the word “retardation” in government agencies. Heeding to self-advocates who have long argued the use of “mental retardation” is offensive, both houses of the state legislature voted to remove the term from the names of all 88 county boards and the state department.
Self-advocates attending the news conference will explain their personal experiences with the use of insensitive and hurtful language and labels. The Superintendent will also announce the Board’s participation in a statewide campaign called “Disable the Label” to recognize the abilities of everyone rather than defining groups of people with a label.
Superintendent Trunk will also explain that while the name is changing, services provided and eligibility requirements are not.
As the parent of a child who is mentally disabledI do not see any problem with the previous name. It describes their problem. We were also upset when they closed their special school and sent them to the public schools. Fornatuallyour son was ableto graduatebefore that happened.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:24 amDoing a little reasearch, I found that various terms have been used through the years to label those who today are called mentally challenged. Some of those old terms include: Cretin, Idiot, Imbicile, Moron, Retarded, among others. These were all used at one time or another to clinically describe the condition of those with mental disabilities. Today these words are considered offensive when describing anyone.
My point is that the next word or phrase we choose to politely describe those with mental conditions will eventually adapt the same stigma. That new word or phrase will then be added to the list above.
The idea to “Disable the Label” is understandable as it hopes to stop the cycle mentioned above, but we have to still be able to talk about the problem, and specfic words will be needed for that conversation.
Gerald in Post #1 makes it clear to me that political correctness is not addressing the problem. Seems that some feel guilty for using words that a handful of advocates have become offended by, and they tell us all that it is necessary to dance around the sensitivities of a few. Nothing will change when we alter the terminology. Before long the new word will become as offensive as the old words.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:02 amI don’t see a problem with the old name either.
It would be nice if we could follow through and see the abilities in everyone.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:27 pm