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

[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.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

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.

Exactly.

[UGAalum94]

Yeah, and it's an area of life when people do need to understand what the are dealing with to understand the urgency of taking advantage of the programs offered.

Intellectually delayed may imply that time alone will resolve the issue and the parent may not actively pursue early intervention programs. It's not just about people's feelings.

Again, I'm not saying it's okay to insult people, especially by misapplying the name of their condition to insult someone.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

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.

Already there. My sister bristles if I call someone "special" meaning slow.

I feel like this is like trying to make casual names for women. The b-word is highly unacceptable with a lot of people, but some don't mind it being applied where (by definition) it shouldn't be. Others replace the word with "female," but some women have a problem with that. Some prefer ma'am and others hate it, some like "Miss Lady" but one girl didn't like that either...people will get insulted by just about anything, depending on their individual idiosyncrasies. I'm all for banning words that are blatant insults, no one word is going to gain universal popularity.