Special Olympics aims at ending the derogatory use of the "r-word"

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by BigRedBeta

I'm a pediatrician. Dealing with developmentally delayed and mentally retarded (there's a difference) is a part of my job. When I'm at the hospital, writing a progress note in which I write "8 y/o patient with MR and quadraplegic spastic cerebral palsy with history of repeated hospitalizations for respiratory distress" is a medically accurate and relevant comment. I would be miffed if a patient's family resented me putting "MR" in my notes.

Given that, it's a part of my vocabulary. This isn't that big of deal to me. I'm with KSig on this one, it's an accurate statement when describing the afflicted. It's not the word that's offensive but tone and context, if said as a way to hurt someone, I might understand. I don't think it's offensive when said amongst friends either though.

Exactly - along somewhat the same lines, I know of people who have masters degrees in "Teaching Individuals with Mental Retardation."

[AlphaFrog]

Being an Alpha Sig with our philanthropy as Special Olympics, I've tried to be more conscious of saying the "r-word", but honestly, it's just something that's been used by my age group so long, it's hard to get rid of. I've joked with my coworker that they're going to kick me out of my sorority if I can't stop saying that, so she'll make a joke about getting kicked out when she hears me say it. I actually appreciate her doing it, because it really points out to me when I use it and don't even think about it.

[DGTess]

As the mother of a mentally retarded man, I am, on the other hand, offended that some feel "intellectual disability" accurately describes my son's condition.

He is moderately mentally retarded, with ADHD, and autistic tendencies. Yes, his cognitive abilities and language abilities are retarded. He is NOT a "tard".

Like using "gay" to mean "lame", when it can mean homosexual or happy, individuals can use the word "retarded" in a hurtful manner. Those people are generally beneath me.

I'm disgusted that the national "Association for Retarded Citizens", in fact, changed their name simply to "ARC" (like KFC dropped "Kentucky Fried Chicken" because "fried" is apparently bad), and even more disgusted that the politically correct are folding to the too-sensitive.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DGTess

As the mother of a mentally retarded man, I am, on the other hand, offended that some feel "intellectual disability" accurately describes my son's condition.

He is moderately mentally retarded, with ADHD, and autistic tendencies. Yes, his cognitive abilities and language abilities are retarded. He is NOT a "tard".

Like using "gay" to mean "lame", when it can mean homosexual or happy, individuals can use the word "retarded" in a hurtful manner. Those people are generally beneath me.

Exactly. There is a vast difference, at least in my mind, between using mentally retarded in a medical/diagnostic sense and calling a situation or attitude "retarded" or a person a "retard" or "tard."

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I'm disgusted that the national "Association for Retarded Citizens", in fact, changed their name simply to "ARC" (like KFC dropped "Kentucky Fried Chicken" because "fried" is apparently bad), and even more disgusted that the politically correct are folding to the too-sensitive.

Yeah, I agree that kind of stuff is over the top. Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the deaf community as a whole said recently that they prefer "deaf" to "hearing impaired"? I mean, I go past WPSD (Western PA School for the Deaf) frequently, not WPSHI.

I looked at the wikipedia entry on gypsies, and IMO it doesn't ever seem to have been the most complimentary term.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsies

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I'm disgusted that the national "Association for Retarded Citizens", in fact, changed their name simply to "ARC" (like KFC dropped "Kentucky Fried Chicken" because "fried" is apparently bad), and even more disgusted that the politically correct are folding to the too-sensitive.

In biology there is a lab procedure that tests the binding of a protein to DNA and it used to be called a 'gel retardation assay'. Now, it is called a 'gel shift assay'.

[DrPhil]

So, shall we change it to "mentally shifted" instead of "mentally retarded?"

"Shift" would constitute a shift in mindset.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

So, shall we change it to "mentally shifted" instead of "mentally retarded?"

"Shift" would constitute a shift in mindset.

Yeah, but one's mindset could shift without any mental detriment.

"Retarded" means "slowed down" and that seems pretty accurate.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

Yeah, but one's mindset could shift without any mental detriment.

"Retarded" means "slowed down" and that seems pretty accurate.

I agree.

Oh well.

[WinniBug]

Oh, man.
there was a post about this in one of my MySpace groups and some pretty foolish responses.

"honestly, i’m not going to stop saying "retarded". People are way too sensitive about shit these days. I vote no more of this politically correct crap. We should be able to say whatever the f**k we want. Call a spade a spade."

"if you’re going refrain from using the word "retarded", you might as well refrain from using the word "idiot" as well
because they both basically mean the same thing and are both considered offensive"
..."but their definitions are almost the same (not including the 2nd definition of idiot):
Main Entry: re·tard·ed
Function: adjective
Date: 1895
sometimes offensive : slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress

Main Entry: id·i·ot
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 usually offensive : a person affected with extreme mental retardation
2: a foolish or stupid person

to which someone else replied....."Quit using a book from 1895, it’s wrong." (lol)

"This whole thread is so gay."

[CobraKai]

It's not just the word - it's what the word contributes to.According to Special Olympics, less than 10% of people with intellectual disabilities in the United States are employed, compared to 50% of U.S. Special Olympics athletes, compared to 92% of the general population. By using the r-word, people indirectly help ostracize those with intellectual disabilities – by increasing awareness of the issue, we can help foster a greater acceptance of those with intellectual disabilities into our community.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by CobraKai

It's not just the word - it's what the word contributes to.According to Special Olympics, less than 10% of people with intellectual disabilities in the United States are employed, compared to 50% of U.S. Special Olympics athletes, compared to 92% of the general population. By using the r-word, people indirectly help ostracize those with intellectual disabilities – by increasing awareness of the issue, we can help foster a greater acceptance of those with intellectual disabilities into our community.

While I think your premise is likely correct, this isn't particularly compelling evidence of how these individuals are affected.

Did these individuals have full employment 3 decades ago, before the term "retarded" entered the general lexicon as a slang term? Is it really in the best interests of the whole for widespread employment? How much of this is self-selection (presumably, those who seek out endeavors such as Special Olympics will be those who seek out challenges such as employment as well) versus an actual societal viewpoint?

This is much more complex than we've really allowed for so far in this conversation.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

This is much more complex than we've really allowed for so far in this conversation.

This includes the different levels of mental retardation.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by CobraKai

It's not just the word - it's what the word contributes to.According to Special Olympics, less than 10% of people with intellectual disabilities in the United States are employed, compared to 50% of U.S. Special Olympics athletes, compared to 92% of the general population. By using the r-word, people indirectly help ostracize those with intellectual disabilities – by increasing awareness of the issue, we can help foster a greater acceptance of those with intellectual disabilities into our community.

This is kind of goofy. It's likely the intellectual disabilities that contribute to unemployment, rather than the terminology used to describe those with the disabilities.

Being mean to intellectually delayed or retarded people is immoral as far as I see it. Generally using words for these conditions to disparage others is an extension of this meanness. However, focusing on the use of any particular word is probably wastes a lot of energy that could go to actually improving the experiences of the folks we're talking about labeling, and it likely allows some people to feel like they are doing something to help disabled folks when they really aren't doing much. "I'm so sensitive; I can't stand to hear anyone say retarded."

In kind of an unrelated point, a friend of mine, who teaches special education and particularly worked with younger than school-aged kids, was often frustrated by how the contemporary names for intellectual disabilities made it difficult for parents to understand and accept their children's circumstances. While nobody wants to place unnecessary limits on any kid, your mom probably needs to understand what your IQ score means. She said parents understood what moderately or mildly retarded meant, but often didn't understand what the more up to date terms indicated. Changing terminology on its own doesn't do that much to changed the person's experience.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

This is kind of goofy. It's likely the intellectual disabilities that contribute to unemployment, rather than the terminology used to describe those with the disabilities.

Being mean to intellectually delayed or retarded people is immoral as far as I see it. Generally using words for these conditions to disparage others is an extension of this meanness. However, focusing on the use of any particular word is probably wastes a lot of energy that could go to actually improving the experiences of the folks we're talking about labeling, and it likely allows some people to feel like they are doing something to help disabled folks when they really aren't doing much. "I'm so sensitive; I can't stand to hear anyone say retarded."

In kind of an unrelated point, a friend of mine, who teaches special education and particularly worked with younger than school-aged kids, was often frustrated by how the contemporary names for intellectual disabilities made it difficult for parents to understand and accept their children's circumstances. While nobody wants to place unnecessary limits on any kid, your mom probably needs to understand what your IQ score means. She said parents understood what moderately or mildly retarded meant, but often didn't understand what the more up to date terms indicated. Changing terminology on its own doesn't do that much to changed the person's experience.

Semantics rears it's ugly head again. Changing the name without changing the intended meaning only makes people feel better until they realize that the same thing is being said. Now "special" has an ugly sound to it.