Eliminate Mental Retardation Terminology

Goal: We envision a Texas where our state government prevents perpetuation of negative stereotypes about people with disabilities by the language it uses.

Problem: The words “retarded,” “mental retardation,” “retard,” and “mentally retarded” and other forms of the word have degrading connotations and set low expectations for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The use of such terminology when referring to individuals with certain disabilities is offensive, hurtful, outdated and perpetuates negative stereotypes. Texas still uses the term “mental retardation” to define people and programs.

Recommendation: In all statutes, rules, publications, and references, the Texas should replace the phrase “mental retardation” with the phrase “Intellectual Disability.” Language changes included in this recommendation should not expand, reduce, or exclude eligibility to services or protections currently available to individuals currently labeled with “mental retardation” or other disabilities.

Background: All Texans have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, including Texans with intellectual disabilities—many of whom are your neighbors, friends, co-workers, family members and members of your religious communities.

• Advocates agree. Self-advocates and family members are forging alliances to rid state and federal policy language of this offensive terminology.
• Other states agree. State legislatures across the country are beginning to tackle creating positive change with respectful language in affordable ways that does not create new eligibility criteria for programs.
• Nationally, a movement is underway. On January 1st, 2007, the nation’s oldest organization representing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, The American Association on Mental Retardation (referred to as AAMR), changed its name. It is now The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (referred to as AAIDD). The AAIDD definition of Intellectual Disabilities is:
  • An intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. This disability originates before the age of 18.
  • The term intellectual disability covers the same population of individuals who were diagnosed previously with mental retardation in number, kind, level, type, and duration of the disability and the need of people with this disability for individualized services and supports. Furthermore, every individual who is or was eligible for a diagnosis of mental retardation is eligible for a diagnosis of intellectual disability.