Hippocrates mentioned cognitive function differences as early as 400 BCE (BC), initially associating them with skull abnormalities. In the second century CE (AD), Greek physician Galen delineated varying levels of cognitive skills.
[1] For thousands of years, cognitive differences were poorly understood, and persecution of people with cognitive differences was ubiquitous. Circumstances changed little until the 19th century, when leaders in the field created associations and schools to serve people with cognitive differences. In addition, medical and psychological professionals started to distinguish between people with cognitive disabilities and people with psychiatric disabilities.
[2]Early in the twentieth century, psychologists introduced intelligence tests, resulting in the first modern definitions and diagnostic labels of intellectual disability. Researchers also began to explore the impact of genetics and environment on intellectual development, resulting in new diagnostic categories. Unfortunately, the diagnoses often consigned individuals to institutions.
[3]The treatment of individuals with intellectual disabilities has varied with the beliefs and customs of eras, cultures, and locations.
[4] Years ago, terms such as
feebleminded, mental defective, idiot and
moron had specific functional meanings and were considered acceptable medical terms. The term
retarded comes from the Latin word
retardare, meaning to slow, delay, or hinder. References to the term date as far back as 1426, and by 1895 it was being applied to people with cognitive delay. Initially, retarded replaced older terms because it was less stigmatizing. However, by the 1960s, the “r-word” was growing stigmatized as well.
[5] Today, all of the words noted previously are offensive and routinely used to offend.
Recently, an attitudinal shift has taken place toward people with intellectual disabilities, with increasing focus on the strengths of the individual,
[6] and the terms and definitions of intellectual disability reflect such changes. Most changes reflect a desire to avoid the stigma associated with labeling.
[7] Depending on the source, terms such as
developmental disability, cognitive disability, or
mentally challenged, have all been widely used. Depersonalizing phrases such as "the mentally retarded" are rejected in favor of person-first language. Many advocates, families, and organizations nowobject to all forms of
retardation/retarded, deeming all variants hurtful and stigmatizing (Bellini, 2003; Iacono, 2002; Leicester & Cooke, 2002).
[8],
[9]The former Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) has become simply The Arc, using the term cognitive disability in place of any references to mental retardation or MR. Similarly, the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) is now the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) in an effort to recognize personal preferences and to reflect practices in U.S. and international communities. The rejection of the terms like mentally retarded represent of a paradigm shift recognizing human needs over those of institutions (AAMR, 2002).
[10] It is critical to note that the word “retard” as a human label has never been acceptable.
[1] Miller, C. L., O'Callaghan, M. F., Keogh, D. A., & Whitman, T. L. (1994). Intellectual disabilities. In V.B. Van Hasselt & M. Hersen (Eds.), Advanced abnormal psychology. New York: Plenum Press.
[2] Scheerenberger, R. C. (1987). A history of intellectual disabilities: A quarter century of promise. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
[3] Stevens, P., & Martin, N. (1999). Supporting individuals with intellectual disability and challenging behavior in integrated work settings: an overview and a model for service provision. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities Research, 43, 19-29
[4] Biasini, F. J., Grupe, L., Huffman, L., & Bray, N. W. (1999). Mental retardation: a symptom and a syndrome. In S. Netherton, D. Holmes, & C. E. Walker, (Eds.), Comprehensive Textbook of Child and Adolescent Disorders (pp. 6-23). New York: Oxford University Press.
[5] http://resources.atcmhmr.com/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=10353[6] Polloway, E. A. (1997). Developmental principles of the Luckasson et al.1992 AAMR definition of intellectual disabilities: A retrospective. Education and Training in Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities, 32, 174-178.
[7] Baroff, G. S. (1999). General learning disorder: A new designation for intellectual disabilities. Intellectual Disabilities, 37, 68-70.
[8] Bellini, J. (2003). Mental retardation: definition, classification, and systems of supports. Mental Retardation, 41(2), 135-140.
[9] Leicester, M., & Cooke, P. (2002). Rights not restrictions for learning disabled adults: a response to Spiecker and Steutel. Journal of Moral Education, 31(2), 181-187.
[10] American Association on Mental Retardation (2002). Mental retardation: Definition, classification, and systems of support (10th Ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
