Why is mentally retarded not politically correct

It is acceptable to refer to someone as deaf or hard of hearing. If possible, ask the person which is preferable. Mute and dumb imply that communication is not possible. Instead, be as specific as possible. If someone uses American Sign Language, lip-reads or uses other means to communicate, state that. Background: A defect is defined as an imperfection or shortcoming.

A birth defect is a physical or biochemical difference that is present at birth. Instead, state the nature of the disability or injury. But it should not be used when referring to a specific person or to a group of people with a specific condition.

Instead, be specific about the condition and use only if relevant to the story. Some prefer the term congenital disorder. Background: A deformity is a condition in which part of the body does not have the typical or expected shape, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Physical deformities can arise from a number of causes, including genetic mutations, various disorders, amputations and complications in utero or at birth.

Dementia is not a specific illness; it refers to a wide range of symptoms. According to the National Institute on Aging, other dementias include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal disorders and vascular dementia.

Common symptoms across forms of dementia include memory loss, difficulty performing complex tasks, communication difficulties, personality changes and paranoia, according to the Mayo Clinic. NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone as having dementia only if the information is relevant to the story and you are confident there is a medical diagnosis. Background: Depression is characterized by a loss of interest in activities, persistent fatigue, difficulty in concentrating and making decisions, prolonged feelings of emptiness or hopelessness, and abnormal eating habits, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone as having depression only if the information is relevant to the story and you are confident there is a medical diagnosis. Specify the type of condition if it is known. AP style: The style book suggests naming the specific condition when possible rather than making a general reference. Use lower case unless referring to the Great Depression.

By definition, developmental disabilities manifest before age Those with such disabilities often require lifelong or extended support.

Examples of developmental disabilities include autism spectrum disorder, spina bifida, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. Legal definitions vary from state to state. Some consider it condescending, offensive or simply a way of avoiding talking about disability.

As some advocates observe, we are all differently abled. AP Style: The style book suggests avoiding the term and, instead, trying to be specific about the disability. Various laws define disability differently. NCDJ Recommendation: While it is usually acceptable to use these terms, keep in mind that disability and people who have disabilities are not monolithic.

Programs in Disability Studies should encourage a curriculum that allows students, activists, teachers, artists, practitioners, and researchers to engage the subject matter from various disciplinary perspectives. It is the preferred terminology in Great Britain and by a number of U. Several U. NCDJ Recommendation: Ask the disabled person or disability organizational spokesperson about their preferred terminology. Conforms to AP style , which adds that in describing groups of people, or when individual preferences cannot be determined, use person-first language.

Refer specifically to the physical changes. Other symptoms include memory loss, emotional issues, disorientation and the development of other mental disorders. It was first reported in by Dr. John Langdon Down and is characterized by a range of physical and cognitive characteristics, which the National Institutes of Health details.

Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition. See also Mentally retarded and Mongoloid. It is now widely considered a derogatory slur. The appropriateness of the terms is disputed by those within and outside of the organization.

It is best to ask people which term they prefer to describe them. Background: Dyslexia is a learning disability characterized by challenges identifying speech sounds and learning how to connect them to letters and words, according to the Mayo Clinic. Its chief symptoms include difficulties with spelling, reading, pronunciation of words and processing auditory information. It is a common learning disability among children, although adolescents and adults with dyslexia often exhibit symptoms as well.

Epilepsy manifests differently in individuals: The severity of epileptic seizures, their occurrence rates and the emergence of other health problems differ from person to person.

Epilepsy is most commonly treated with medication but treatment also can include use of medical devices, surgery, diet and emerging therapy methods. But not all people who appear to have seizures have epilepsy, a group of related disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrent seizures.

See also Seizure. Background: Facilitated communication is a widely criticized communication technique that was popular in the s. The technique was originally developed to help those with significant developmental disabilities, such as some forms of autism and cerebral palsy. A nonverbal person would theoretically communicate with the help of a facilitator by typing on a keyboard, pointing to an image, or pointing to letters on an alphabet board.

However, academics eventually found there was little scientific evidence that the technique worked, leading many to conclude the aide was actually the one communicating, according to a study from Emory University. However, some people still strongly support the method. It is widely viewed as legitimate and important. When writing about it, specify that major disability organizations do not recognize facilitated communication as a valid communication technique. Genetic disorders can be caused by a mutation in one gene monogenic disorder , by mutations in multiple genes multifactorial inheritance disorder , by a combination of gene mutations and environmental factors, or by damage to chromosomes changes in the number or structure of entire chromosomes, the structures that carry genes.

A genetic condition is congenital, but a congenital condition is not necessarily genetic. The Genome Research Institute offers comprehensive information about different genetic conditions, genetic testing and other pertinent topics. Twice-exceptional students represent a unique group of learners with diverse programming and emotional needs due to the fact that they may have both gifts and disabilities.

However, its use is relatively rare and not generally accepted. Those who are hard of hearing usually use verbal speech to communicate. Many people in the Deaf community and organizations, including the National Association of the Deaf , support the use of these terms. Some people with mild or moderate hearing loss may affiliate themselves with the Deaf community and prefer the term deaf.

However, AP advises against the latter formulation. For example, they might say that an individual with Down syndrome lives with minimal or no extra l assistance. Background: The two terms often are used interchangeably. Disability advocacy groups emphasize that it is important not to assume people are homebound if they are disabled.

AP style: Not addressed except to state that homebound and housebound are one word with no hyphens. Background: Identify-first language contrasts with people-first language. With identity-first language, the disability is mentioned first.

Background: IInfantile paralysis is shorthand for poliomyelitis and was commonly used in the past to describe polio.

Its symptoms include muscle weakness and paralysis. Jonas Salk introduced the polio vaccine in the s, which drastically reduced cases of polio in the U. It is characterized by new muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain and fatigue. Background: Hospitals that cared for people with various mental illnesses, often for long periods of time, were once commonly referred to as insane asylums. The term has largely gone out of use and is now considered objectionable and inaccurate.

There is debate over how relevant IQ tests should be in making a diagnosis. Background: The term interabled is used by some in the disability community to refer to couples in which one person has a disability and the other does not. Proponents of the term say it helps to destigmatize relationships between people with disabilities and people without disabilities.

Certain communities, such as the Muscular Dystrophy community and the Spinal Muscular Atrophy community, have embraced the term, but others argue that interabled relationships are relationships just like any other and should not be marked as different.

NCDJ Recommendation: Since the term is not in widespread use, its meaning should be explained for a general audience; ask sources how they prefer to describe their relationships whenever possible. AP Style: The only reference relates to hyphenation. In general, there is no hyphen after inter, so interabled is the correct usage not inter-abled. Background: The majority of people with disabilities have chronic conditions that are invisible or hidden. For example, millions of Americans are hard of hearing but most do not use sign language and many do not use hearing aids.

To me, these responses demonstrate that there is a larger problem than the use of the r-word. There is a gross misunderstanding about the meaning of the word and why it is offensive in the first place. Since the word has become commonly used in informal speech, it is harder to see the connection between the original word meaning and the current informal use of the word.

For this reason, it may be difficult to understand why the word is still considered offensive. The r-word is an exclusive term that furthers negative stereotypes about people with disabilities. Words evolve, and we need to keep up with the changes! The words used for intellectual disabilities have also changed. But did you know that at one time mentally retarded was the politically correct term for a person with intellectual disabilities?

When my brother was diagnosed in , his official medical diagnosis listed was mentally retarded. The first use of the word retarded used in reference to mental abilities was in the year It eventually replaced the terms idiot, imbecile, and moron. The American Psychiatric Association used the phrase Mental Retardation in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders in the early s, replacing the older terms feeble-minded, idiot, and moron. The actual definition of the word retarded is not malicious.

It merely means mentally delayed, but it became a shameful term due to it being used in cruel, harmful ways. For reporters, it is important to give them training about the power of words prior to them writing a story. Providing the reporter a list of politically correct terminology or directing them to this section of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation website will go a long way to ensuring that the story will be strong and positive.

So long as the story is a positive one for the Down syndrome community, ALWAYS thank the reporter and the publication for covering your community, and then kindly educate them regarding correct terminology to use. If we want society to embrace people with Down syndrome, it is important that our community is kind, inclusive and ready to educate.

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