'Retarded' and 'Retardation' on the way out in Austin

Mourning a Special Olympics advocate AP Photo/Elise Amendola

Intellectual Disability is OK, and appropriate.

It's time to change the future for our children, special needs or not.

In Central Texas efforts are underway to tackle barriers for people diagnosed with intellectual disabilities, one dynamic at a time. People first language and word meaning play a huge part in the effort toward change.

The Austin American Statesman reported in April of this year about multiple entities banding together to eradicate the words retarded and  retardation from modern usage.  The concerned groups and individuals include:

• a State Senator from Texas
• Special Olympics (National and Texas Chapters)
• ARC of the Capital Area
• The Associated Press (in changing verbiage)
• adults and families of children diagnosed with an intellectual disability
• and even the Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center

Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center declared that they will lead out in a name-change. An Austin Travis County MHMR representative stated in the Statesman article that the name will be changed near Sept. 2009. Current information from the organization's website states,
 

"...our plan is to continue to use the term Mental Retardation until such time as the term changes with the publication of the upcoming DSM-V (5). At this time, Mental Retardation remains the formal and proper diagnostic term." For Starters, a Terminology Note

Many government entities use the term "retardation" in the name of the organization. The American Association of Mental Retardation has already made the necessary changes to keep up with shifting attitudes and is now known as American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Until government entities change their official names it will be difficult to ask the general population to follow. Many look to these entities for cues on correct verbiage. In the meantime progressive citizens can begin to change their personal vocabulary and register complaints with agencies that have yet to change titles or utilize evolving trends toward greater respect.