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.
9 comments:
In reading this article, I am elated to learn that the “r word “is slowly, but surely becoming a taboo phrase in our society.
As the sister of a sibling, who is mentally challenged, it is gives me great satisfaction to know that the organization previously known as American Association of Mental Retardation; has now adopted a more appropriate name for their organization. By officially, renaming their organization, The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. I feel the (AAIDD) has helped shed light on the negative impact that labels such as; the “R word” can have on individuals and families affected by developmental disabilities. Growing up in a slightly different family dynamic, I was always reluctant to use the “R word.” Early on in my childhood, I developed a great sense of shame and guilt in association with using or even hearing this harsh word. As a “normal” child, I was fully aware of society’s degrading interpretation of the “R word.” Knowing this made me angry, and resentful of having to associate my very sweet and loving brother with that term.
Personally I feel a sense of validation in the AAIDD name change. I believe this will lead to the complete elimination of the “R word” in years to come. Ultimately this will make life easier, for individuals and families who are affected by developmental disabilities.
Cris M.
The "R" word is often intended as an insult, and it hurts. One of my daughters is mentally challenged. She can read and write. She graduated from high school. She is conscientious and helpful. People who meet her for the first time would not know automatically that she is mentally challenged.
In high school my daughter became aware that she was being talked about in a derogatory manner. She came home very upset and said to me "I know they say I am R******. I don't know why they say this." She was old enough and experienced enough to dealing with others to know that people usually do not insult you unless you insult them first, or do something to make them angry. I reminded her of the "I" word - ignorant, and the "P" word- "prejudiced" and told her there are many people who are not worth listening to and whose opinion she should ignore. I paid a visit to her school asking that they try to deal with these prejudices, both through education and discipline of those hurting my daughter.
The people who made Thunder Road should know better and be held to a higher standard of conduct than prejudiced teenagers. Yet they are really no different than the kids who thoughtlessly hurt my daughter. The high school kids probably had some emotional issues that lead them to hurt strangers. The movie people made Thunder for profit, thinking that paroding people who can't help their birth or their slow development was funny and appealing to the ticket buying population. Robert Downey, Jr., one of the actors in Thunder, is quoted as saying that some people may like the use of the R word and some may not. It is simply a matter of opinion. Hardly. Gratuitious insults to people because of a status they cannot change is not a matter of personal preference. It offends common decency, and should be condemned. Those who do it should not profit from it, and we should remember them when they make other movies.
DavidW
I currently work at Tropical Texas Behavioral Health as a Mental Retardation Service Coordinator. Before my employment I did not have a lot of interaction with persons with intellectual disabilities or physical disabilities. I was not aware of how often the “R-word” was used around me in every day conversation. Yet what was really embarrassing was how often I used the “R-word”. Now that I am aware of the negative effects of the “R-word”, I am trying to make a conscious decision to change my language to be more appropriate.
I am also trying to get my title changed at work to be more language appropriate as well. I would think that since we are in the business of assisting persons with disabilities and that once the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities changed their name many of the Mental Retardation Authorities would follow suit. This has not been the case and therefore I know it will be awhile before I can honestly say that I work at an agency that is sensitive to the needs and feelings of those we serve.
~Marlene H.
The article is very clear. People has to watch out with their expression with people with disability. It is very sad when a person is named "retarded", is like that person is a clown of people. That's not a good positive expression saying that the person is slow or dumb. There are many differences in the world, some pople have genetic problems, some have physical or mental disorders, but it doesnt mean they are from another world, they are from here but with differences. It is cruel to treat people with disabilities like CLOWNS,OR WEIRD PEOPLE, in reality there are so many disorders, ones are more developed than others, some poeple can see it, others cannot, but it still affects the body and mind. I think this article is very interesting. Claudia P.
Language is a very dynamic thing, constantly evolving. As a teacher I try to encourage students to be careful in their choice of words they do not really understand. Too often people pick up language without even understanding what they are saying and without realizing that the words can be hurtful and demeaning to others. I was very glad to read this article because as the title indicates it provides a brief history of the "R-Word" which I can share with my high school students to explain better why the word offends me and others. In our country, there is no excuse for ignorance, yet it exists. We should all take the opportunity to educate ourselves and those around us to choose our words wisely and carefully to avoid offending and insulting others. If we don't make the effort to stop the use of the "R-word" when we hear it used, then put ourselves at the same level of ignorance as those using the word. What is the sense of reading and educating ourselves if we do not use this learning for the betterment of our society.
Sylvia S.
The word has obviously been around for a long time, for the meaning to have a stigma. We as advocates have been making changes for the better. For example, using different words that are less or not stigmatizing. The word has slipped out of my tough before but not to offend anyone just because it was used a lot and I would hear it a lot at school. I mostly did it to sound cool. I had no idea at that time that it was a very bad word. The other words like moron or idiot are also bad. I also think they have the same effect as if you use the word retarded. I have been told once that I was an idiot, by my brother and it hurt so much. I can not imagine how people, who have a member of the family who with an intellectual disability, would feel.
Crystal S.
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After reading this article and some of the comments left by others, it is obvious that the r-word is unacceptable. When I was younger, my brothers and I used to tease each other and we would sometimes use the r-word, not knowing how derogatory it really is. I now have a cousin through marriage, who has Down syndrome. She does not realize that she has any type of cognitive disorder. She is now 21 years old and she graduated from high school this year. The family treats her exactly the same as they do every other member of the family, so she doesn’t see anything wrong with the way she is. In fact, we were having dinner at a restaurant and a young man with Down syndrome was looking at her and trying to get her attention. She said that she would not talk to him because he was different than she was, that he did not look like her. She saw herself no different than anyone else, yet she notice that he looked a little different that everyone else in the restaurant. She is quite a young lady and thank God, no one has ever used the r-word in reference to her – that I know of.
Nancy C.
Blog 1 of 12
I have always been a person who makes sure not to offend people, and if it accidently happens I apologize. This article was very imformative and yet many people still use those disrespectful terms. Some people may not get offended by those words, but they should think twice about calling someone the "R-word" because it can really affect a person. The article clearly states how these words have been used for many, many years and are still being used, but I believe eventually as time goes on people will begin to understand those words are not acceptable and how there are other terms for describing how a person is or what a certain person has.
Tracy S.
This particular article was very rewarding and filled with very valuable information. I was unaware of the fact that cognitive differences were first seen as early in 400 BC. I feel this article reflects how change occurred throughout history. As stated in the article individuals were unaware of what to do with individuals with disabilities they would stigmatize institutionalize and discriminate against these individuals. I feel this article states why people began to advocate for their rights. What was very inspiring about this article was how this article went into further detail about the terminology use, and how terminology is constantly changing. I feel now a day’s there is still some discriminating terminology usage, yet not as much as years ago.
Caleb B.
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