FW: Use Respectful Language: Eliminate theR-word by State Senator Judith Zaffirini, PhD

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From: Ginger Mayeaux

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Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 2:01 PM

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March 3, 2010

Use Respectful Language:

Eliminate the " R-word "

by

State Senator Judith Zaffirini, PhD

Wednesday (March 3) is National " Spread the Word to End

the Word " Awareness Day, offering us a rich opportunity to focus on

using respectful language for persons with intellectual disabilities by

eliminating the " R-word. "

Our efforts were bolstered recently when an American

Psychiatric Association review panel unveiled proposed revisions to the

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, an influential

guidebook in the mental health field. One recommended change favored by

the panel is particularly overdue: eliminating all variations of the word

" retarded " and replacing them with respectful language

referencing persons with intellectual disabilities.

The " R-word " is extremely hurtful and demeaning to

persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and its use

presents significant barriers to community inclusion. State governments

are recognizing this belatedly and are progressing toward the universal

use of respectful language: Several states voted recently to remove the

R-word from statute. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is considering 's

Law, a bill to eliminate the terms " mental retardation " and

" mentally retarded " from federal health, education and labor

laws.

Texas should not lag behind. In 2009 I authored legislation

that would have required all variations of the word " R-word " to

be removed from Texas statutes. Although SB 1395 was heard by the

Senate Health and Human Services Committee, it was never scheduled for a

vote. I plan to re-file this respectful language legislation for the next

Texas Legislative Session that will convene on Jan. 11.

When it comes to treating persons with respect, Texas should

lead by example, and our leaders

should too. Recently high-level advisors to Gov. Rick

and President Barack Obama were criticized deservedly for using the

R-word inappropriately. This is not a partisan issue. It is a matter of

human decency. Eliminating the R-word from our everyday and legal

language would reflect our commitment to the ethic of respectful

reciprocity, or what many of us know as the Golden Rule: Treat others the

way you would like to be treated. Equally important, it also would

reflect the Platinum Rule: Treat others the way they would like to be

treated. These rules are not only the way we should live our lives, but

also are the best approach to public policy.

Sadly, removing outdated and disrespectful language in

statutes and in dense psychiatric tomes can take a long time. The revisions

to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, for instance, will be the first

in 10 years, and the process is not yet complete.

Fortunately, no legislation has to be passed for us to start

eliminating the R-word from everyday speech. We can start immediately by

talking with our friends and family and by participating in the National

" Spread the Word to End the Word " Awareness Day on Wednesday.

To find out how you can help promote respectful language,

visit www.r-word.org/. More than 70,000 persons have

visited the site and pledged to support eliminating the R-word in their

everyday speech.

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