There is Strength in Words!

Recently I re-posted via St. Ann Center’s facebook, a link in support of a program that is supported by Best Buddies called “Spread the Word to End the Word.” This program is striving to support the elimination of the derogatory use of the word ‘retard(ed)’ from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

Someone commented on our facebook page essentially saying that “we have the problem with the use of the r-word, that people with disabilities don’t care about the use of that word.” As the administrator of the page I removed that comment from our page because I felt it was inappropriate.

I would like to respond to that posting because I feel it is necessary to explain why the posting was removed. The person who made that comment was somewhat correct. It is the people who love and care for those with special needs that care about the use of the r-word. It is true that some people with disabilities do not understand that they are being referred to using the “r-word,” but there are some who do understand.

I have a child with Down syndrome and he is, in fact, mentally retarded – though that clinical connotation is no longer used. Clinically he is referred to as cognitively delayed, not mentally retarded. The denotation of the word ‘retard’ is ‘slow.’ When people in casual speech, use the r-word it is usually used as a derogatory expression meaning “stupid” or “dumb” not “slow.” It hurts me, yes me personally, when I hear people ignorantly use the r-word in casual conversation. My son does not care about the use of the r-word, but his brothers, his sister, his grandparents and his parents do!

Below is an excerpt taken from the website r-word.org:

“The R-word hurts because it is exclusive. It’s offensive. It’s derogatory. The R-word is hate speech.

How "retardation" went from a clinical description to a word of derision

When they were originally introduced, the terms “mental retardation” or “mentally retarded” were medical terms with a specifically clinical connotation; however, the pejorative forms, “retard” and “retarded” have been used widely in today’s society to degrade and insult people with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, when “retard” and “retarded” are used as synonyms for “dumb” or “stupid” by people without disabilities, it only reinforces painful stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities being less valued members of humanity. “

I would like to hear what you think. Please feel free to comment below.