By the CPD Consumer Advisory Council members
“Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.” (Buddha)
The words that have been used through the ages to refer to people with cognitive disabilities have often been less than kind, and have usually had a negative connotation. Words such as retard, dumbbell, idiot, and others leave a bad taste in our mouths and have a direct impact on the attitude that others have towards those with cognitive disabilities. Other words that have attempted to be kinder are often seen as offensive to individuals with cognitive disabilities and their family members. Words like mentally impaired, intellectually disabled, handicapped, differentially-abled, and even special needs.
Presently, more than 6 million people have been diagnosed with cognitive disabilities in this country. A bill is now being introduced to Congress to strike the term “mentally retarded” or “mental retardation” from federal use and to substitute the words “intellectual disabilities.” The bill is called “Rosa”s Law,” and is named for Rosa Marcellino, an 8-year-old girl with Down syndrome, whose 14-year-old brother spoke to Maryland legislators recently about using “words that are hurtful.”
Mark Twain has said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.”
We have an opportunity now to help chose the “right words” to use to refer to someone with intellectual disabilities. We have an opportunity to change the way that people think about people with intellectual disabilities, by using kinder, more thoughtful words. Buddha said, “Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”
The Consumer Advisory Council at the CPD supports the use of kinder, more thoughtful words. We urge others to advocate for Rosa’s Law and change the words used in federal language.
To read more about advocacy for Rosa’s Law, visit the AUCD website.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
i am so grateful to rosa’s mom for her outstanding advocacy—i have been making this argument
for many years including attempts to convince the national fragile x foundation ( years ago )
that any gains made in funding etc would be ill gotten if they were made by playing the PITY card
—-it always seemed to me that our society justified the the prejudice toward and exclusion of people with “mental retardation ” ( yuch ) because that word was so accepted and powerful in so many circles of our culture—perhaps those days are ending—
joe gerardi long island self determination coalition
November 24th, 2009 at 10:24 am
“out of the mouths of babes”, could be an appropriate phrase when considering this law. A simple request but yet so wise. Words can be damning, hateful, and hurtful. Referring to someone as a “retard” or even labeling them as “mentally retarded” is hurtful and harmful to a person’s self-esteem. As a people we always have to label something or someone, but why use derogatory language to do so. People first language should be the norm. I hope the federal government will understand and see the wisdom in passing this law. Now, if we could only work on the news media and journalist.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Growing up as a kid in New Mexico I began kindergarten as the smallest and shortest kid in my class. This continued throughout my K-12 education. I can still remember how mean the kids were to me as the shortest person in class and also to my friends and classmates who were labeled mentally retarded and called retards. This continued throughout school and into the 70s. I was always uncomfortable with how mean kids could be and still am. I remember having many friends who had intellectual disabilities but were called retards.
To this day it bothers me that our society cannot treat each other respectfully. All of the hard work done by advocates is making a difference and I hope Rosa’s Law gets passed. Then the next step that the disability community needs to work on is the medical labeling used in the DSM4-Revised version that is used to label individuals. With people first language these labels can all be removed and replaced with respectful terminology that is inclusive and respectful for everyone.
Feel free to share your views and comments on Rosa’s Law. Also share this CAC blog with others as we advocate for using people first language.
Gordon Richins
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Bravo, let’s hope it passes!