DaytonDailyNews.com

Has the pervasive use of mean-spirited slang tainted the words "mental retardation?"

The Ohio Association of County Boards of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities is to vote Oct. 27 about whether to take the words "mental retardation" out of its name and ask the Ohio Department of MRDD to do the same.

Meanwhile, 10 of Ohio's 88 county boards have already taken the "MR" out of MRDD — becoming simply boards of developmental disabilities — and others, including Montgomery County's board, are talking about it.

At issue, according to the state MRDD department's Wednesday, July 25, newsletter, is "the perception that modern usage of the slang variant, 'retard,' has a demeaning connotation and negates the legitimate use of the word 'retardation.'" Also, some officials would like to shorten the name, and contend retardation is redundant because it's one of many developmental disabilities.

Ohio is one of only eight states that still use "mental retardation" in their official names. The Ohio Department of MRDD hasn't taken a position on the issue.

The Ohio Legislature formed the MRDD system in 1967 with Senate Bill 169, and for years the county MRDD agencies were also called "169 boards." Linda Oda, spokeswoman for the boards association, said Thursday that "retardation" has taken on a more derogatory meaning over the years.

"Let's look at the history of any other minority group," said Oda, who also is vice president of Warren County MRDD. "The way we referred to minority people 40 years ago isn't acceptable today. Forty years ago, it was common for professionals to refer to people (with retardation) as 'imbeciles' and 'feeble-minded.'"

Some clients are among those calling for a name change, the boards association said.

Butler County MRDD officials investigated a name change recently, but the county prosecutor advised them the name was established by state law.

The Montgomery County MRDD board likely will discuss the issue in September or October, spokesman Tim Pfister said, but officials will spend time finding out the wishes of clients and their families before taking any action.

Pfister said some officials are concerned that voters, historically generous in supporting MRDD levies, would be confused if MR is no longer in the ballot wording.

He said "retardation" may have become a more derisive term, but if the MRDD name is changed, "how many years will it be before that (new name) becomes hurtful slang?"

People would be less likely to use retardation as an insult, Pfister said, if they got to know more people with disabilities.

"They may have more challenges, but they have the same needs and desires as everybody else."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2264 or tbeyerlein@DaytonDailyNews.com.