Re: Clarifying the term Mentally Retarded

[Guest guest]

For the reasons you have cited, as well as myself and others, those are the

same reasons that doctors, legislators, and governmental agencies are more and

more foregoing the use of the term for other terms that state impairment.

There clearly is no benefit to using the MR term anymore in their minds, and I

agree. Why anyone would choose to continue to use the term when other terms

can in fact replace it and are being used as such, makes no sense to me.

Being an attorney, I do look at words carefully, but I also am aware of

legal meaning behind them. Saying cognitively impaired has been a legally and

medically acceptable term for some time now. Carolyn

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[Guest guest]

I really like the way you expressed that. My child will likely end up with an

MR label, but while he may have cognitive difficulties there are areas (like

physical activities) where he excells. Thanks for posting.

, mom to Cordis

toyz4my4boyz <cnickerson37@...> wrote:

I was only giving an option of another phrase to use. Only considering

how the term has been used in a derogatory manner by those that are

ignorant, implying a metally retarded person can not learn or is slow

to learn. I do not feel this term accurately describes any child. As

we all know from growing up that innocent, accurate words, often

change meaning to the general populationl. Which my point, in fact

was to share a term that would best describe children with challenges.

Atypical Development. I have a nephew with downs syndrome and am very

aware that his devlopment is not globally retarded or slow, it is just

Atypical Development. He is amazing at math problems and when he was

little he could solve algebra equastions. There are obvious areas of

development that are slower. However, my neurotypical son was reading

at 3, but took a lot longer than his peers to learn simple math. Does

that make him retarded in the way the term is used by the general

population? No, but clinically, yes he is, in math. Again, I was

stating that most of our kids development is not retarded, just not

" typical " if that even still exists. I worked with many " mentally

challenged " children for many years and I did not find one that did

not have a part of their mental development that was beyond the norm.

To me, retarded implies that the development is slow and is used to

globally describe the child, which I find very inacurate. It only

describes pieces of their development.

[Guest guest]

I like how you describe that. I am special educator and did not know how to say

MR a different way. atypical development is a great way to say that... I also

like how you say that it is not global that its in certain areas. I always give

parents hope with reporting that their children are doing well in certain areas

too.

To add to your wonderful clarification.... Special education children are just

children. People tend to forget that (especially professionals). Some

behaviors are just normal for their age. My son who is 7 talks back. That's

pretty typical. Its not the disorder that causes him to talk back just a normal

developmental process. He is showing his independence and all children need and

almost have to show their independence. To say that talking back is " atypical "

would be bad for the child's normal development. It doesn't mean you don't

address it.

They are just children who have silly, bad, good, mad days. In my special

education world, professionals tend to make special ed children little compliant

robots. I love a child who has some spunk and I do not squash that in that

child. In this world we all need to be fighters and leaders and so does a

special education child. They acually need it more than most.

thank you for your take on MR

chris

[ ] Clarifying the term Mentally Retarded

I was only giving an option of another phrase to use. Only considering

how the term has been used in a derogatory manner by those that are

ignorant, implying a metally retarded person can not learn or is slow

to learn. I do not feel this term accurately describes any child. As

we all know from growing up that innocent, accurate words, often

change meaning to the general populationl. Which my point, in fact

was to share a term that would best describe children with challenges.

Atypical Development. I have a nephew with downs syndrome and am very

aware that his devlopment is not globally retarded or slow, it is just

Atypical Development. He is amazing at math problems and when he was

little he could solve algebra equastions. There are obvious areas of

development that are slower. However, my neurotypical son was reading

at 3, but took a lot longer than his peers to learn simple math. Does

that make him retarded in the way the term is used by the general

population? No, but clinically, yes he is, in math. Again, I was

stating that most of our kids development is not retarded, just not

" typical " if that even still exists. I worked with many " mentally

challenged " children for many years and I did not find one that did

not have a part of their mental development that was beyond the norm.

To me, retarded implies that the development is slow and is used to

globally describe the child, which I find very inacurate. It only

describes pieces of their development.

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[Guest guest]

All I am saying is that I don't feel your doctor mean to upset you in anyway

just to say that the speech is delayed, not that it won't ever come, just that

it will be slow. I have a brother who literally said nothing until he was 4,

not dada , mama etc. and then his first word was a full sentence " mama hee comes

a truck " .

Technically, his speech was retarded,slowed. He is above normal

intelligence, has an IQ of 165 and is an attorney. This is nothing to dowith his

intelligence. I was defending your doctor's use of the word because so many

persons use that word incorrectly today and it is refreshing to see someone

actually know how to us it correctly.

Sharon

& Colburn <cordis7@...> wrote: I really like the way

you expressed that. My child will likely end up with an MR label, but while he

may have cognitive difficulties there are areas (like physical activities) where

he excells. Thanks for posting.

, mom to Cordis

toyz4my4boyz <cnickerson37@...> wrote:

I was only giving an option of another phrase to use. Only considering

how the term has been used in a derogatory manner by those that are

ignorant, implying a metally retarded person can not learn or is slow

to learn. I do not feel this term accurately describes any child. As

we all know from growing up that innocent, accurate words, often

change meaning to the general populationl. Which my point, in fact

was to share a term that would best describe children with challenges.

Atypical Development. I have a nephew with downs syndrome and am very

aware that his devlopment is not globally retarded or slow, it is just

Atypical Development. He is amazing at math problems and when he was

little he could solve algebra equastions. There are obvious areas of

development that are slower. However, my neurotypical son was reading

at 3, but took a lot longer than his peers to learn simple math. Does

that make him retarded in the way the term is used by the general

population? No, but clinically, yes he is, in math. Again, I was

stating that most of our kids development is not retarded, just not

" typical " if that even still exists. I worked with many " mentally

challenged " children for many years and I did not find one that did

not have a part of their mental development that was beyond the norm.

To me, retarded implies that the development is slow and is used to

globally describe the child, which I find very inacurate. It only

describes pieces of their development.

[Guest guest]

I think most of us find the term offensive not because of it's

medical use, but because of how ignorant people in the world use it

specifically to offend. I'm sure a lot of you have heard about the

contestant on " Big Brother " who claims to work with kids with autism,

yet called them " retards " on air. CBS aired the comment without a

bleep, refused to apologize, and let the contestant continue on the

show. On that same show, at least one contestant was previously

booted for making racially insensitive comments. Apparently,

sensitivity for those affected by autism is not highly valued by

CBS. Advertisers are being contacted to pressure CBS.

When my son was in preschool, the school district provided a bus to

and from school, which was SO helpful to my family. A good friend of

mine said to me, " I can't believe you're letting him take the 'tard

cart. "

So when people get upset, they are not thinking about doctors and

IQ's, they're thinking of playground punks in their past who used the

word solely to hurt. I don't think anyone here would use the term in

that way, but it is important for people to let their feelings be

known. Using a more sensitive word or phrase is a small kindness we

can all muster.

in NJ

>

> I was only giving an option of another phrase to use. Only

considering

> how the term has been used in a derogatory manner by those that are

> ignorant, implying a metally retarded person can not learn or is

slow

> to learn. I do not feel this term accurately describes any child. As

> we all know from growing up that innocent, accurate words, often

> change meaning to the general populationl. Which my point, in fact

> was to share a term that would best describe children with

challenges.

> Atypical Development. I have a nephew with downs syndrome and am

very

> aware that his devlopment is not globally retarded or slow, it is

just

> Atypical Development. He is amazing at math problems and when he was

> little he could solve algebra equastions. There are obvious areas of

> development that are slower. However, my neurotypical son was

reading

> at 3, but took a lot longer than his peers to learn simple math.

Does

> that make him retarded in the way the term is used by the general

> population? No, but clinically, yes he is, in math. Again, I was

> stating that most of our kids development is not retarded, just not

> " typical " if that even still exists. I worked with many " mentally

> challenged " children for many years and I did not find one that did

> not have a part of their mental development that was beyond the

norm.

> To me, retarded implies that the development is slow and is used to

> globally describe the child, which I find very inacurate. It only

> describes pieces of their development.

>