Legally correct term coined for people with disabilities

Raul Herrera/Staff Writer

The state of Florida has unanimously passed a law this summer changing the word “mental retardation” for “intellectual disability.”  This means that government forms will now reflect such a shift.

The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities said the term “intellectual disability” applies to individuals who were previously diagnosed with mental retardation, and clarified that those with developmental disabilities may also apply if said impairment has a cognitive effect.

Amanda Niguidula, director of the University’s Disability Resource Center, believes that this is a step in the right direction.

“Being a university where we have a high value of how students identify themselves, anything that helps stop the use of a potentially derogatory label is a step in the right direction,” said Niguidula.

Melissa Resillez, a junior English student, agreed.

“It could be insulting to a lot of people,” said Resillez, “‘Mental retardation’ is a negative term. It sounds like an insult.”

Niguidula pointed to the fact that, while many students who come in already know what label applies to them, the change of legal terminology is of interest to the Disability Center. She also conveyed her suspicion that this change in government terminology might affect the social use of the term.

“Forms and processes [now] have to reflect [the new] word usage. As the use of required language begins to permeate the practice, administrations, services and things like that, I think it facilitates an environment where other types of labels fall just out of usage,” said Niguidula. “It becomes less present in the community.”

Resillez, too, believes that referring to intellectually disabled individuals as such through government forms will have social repercussions with regards to usage of the term “mentally retarded.”

“When I used to work for Disney, we were trained that when you had a student with a disability, you can’t say, ‘Let me help this disabled guest.’ You must say ‘Let me help this guest with a disability,’” said Resillez, “I think America and the world should start following that.”

Both Niguidula and Resillez pointed to how the offensiveness of the term helped create what the former calls “momentum” to make this change, both on the state level and federal level. Niguidula pointed to the personal story of a young intellectually disabled girl whose parents struggled with the term’s usage in some locations, which helped fuel said momentum.

“I think personal experiences matter when it comes to marginalizing entire identities in a negative way,” said Niguidula.

“If I had a disability, and you referred to me as ‘mentally retarded,’ I would find it offensive,” said Resillez, who also pointed to how children in playgrounds often use the word ‘retarded’ condescendingly, which she asserts is extremely offensive to those who have intellectual disabilities.

Resillez indicated that while individuals do have the freedom of speech to say whatever they want, Americans would improve if they use the new term.

“Yes, you can say that [someone is] retarded, but why would you say that? [This issue] defines who you are as an American,” said Resillez.

“As far as I am aware, [there are no governmental] repercussions for using the term ‘mental retardation,” said Niguidula. “Disability services at FIU often [have] to do etiquette training. We strive to get the words right.”

However, Niguidula said that the National Advocacy Organization, an independent group that works with individuals and families with intellectual disabilities, helps to ensure change of labels.

“I think [these] are more incentives rather than penalties, but I could be wrong,” said Niguidula.

When asked about a non-governmental approach to changing the term, Niguidula specified how both society and governmental change work together.

“I think it’s important that we’re talking about this now, in tandem with [the legislation],” said Niguidula.

– news@fiusm.com

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