From the Amesbury [Massachusetts] News and the Newburyport [Massachusetts] Daily News:

The title of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation will be changed through a provision of the state budget passed by the legislature. The new name will be the Department of Developmental Services.

State Rep. Michael A. Costello, D-Newburyport, left, a longtime proponent of the change, praised the move as an empowering action for one of the state’s most vulnerable populations. Costello has filed legislation to change the name of DMR during each of the last three legislative sessions.

… “The word retardation is used as a commonplace pejorative throughout society, and it’s really common sense that the word should not be associated with one of our state agencies,” Costello said. “The change removes a harmful stigma and should empower those whom the agency serves.”

Costello said he is hopeful that Gov. Deval Patrick would sign the measure.

See also:
Antiquated DMR name long overdue for change — Commentary from the Quincy [MA] Patriot Ledger

An excerpt:

Eight years ago, about 20 protesters took positions in front of the State House on a windy, rainy February day to protest DMR’s name. Wearing “Change This Name” T-shirts and holding signs that spelled “Respect,” they noted then that “retardation” was a “loaded word” that is “long outdated.”

Today, the word “retardation” (and all its ugly variants) is no less loaded and even more outdated. If the time wasn’t right eight years ago to do right by the 32,000 people served by DMR, it is undeniably right now.

(Photo from www.mass.gov)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 at 10:53 am and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, language, politics, public attitudes, stigma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.