‘Retard’: A mother’s view of a word that wounds
July 7th, 2007From USA Today:
Theresa Howard has written an eloquent essay about the use of the word “retard” as an insult. She says it erodes the dignity of people with intellectual disabilities, and demonstrates that we all need to work on accepting them into society. The American Association on Mental Retardation, by the way, recently changed its name to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Fixing the terminology is only a start. The bigger issue is acceptance of people with disabilities.
Do your part. Don’t stare. Say hello. Be inclusive. And when you want to insult someone’s intelligence, remember to use a different word.
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August 15th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Thank you for speaking up. One of my first friends, at age 5, was “retarded.” I never heard the word until about 3rd grade when older kids called me a “retard” because I had two neighbors and three friends who were “retarded.”
I have worked with and advocated with and for people with mental retardation ever since.
We all need to speak up and speak out.