“Removing the words ‘mental retardation’ from our title is the right thing to do,” said Karen Mayer, Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities superintendent. “The word ‘retarded’ has been used in a derogatory way for a long time, and it doesn’t fit the manner in which we support the people we serve.”
The name change process began more than two years ago when a group of people with developmental disabilities attended the Athens County Board of MRDD meeting and said they didn’t like being called retarded.
The law included an amendment that allows county boards of developmental disabilities to use all of their surplus brochures, letterhead, envelopes and other printed supplies. This will eliminate any waste of materials which have already been purchased.
Building signage at the Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities will change immediately to begin the process of acquainting the community with the new name.
In Miami County, the newly named Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities will still also be known by its community name of Riverside of Miami County. The Riverside name came about in the 1950s from a grass roots parents’ movement that began the initial program.
“We thought about discontinuing our Riverside name, but it would have been confusing. So, for now, we will keep our community name which the community recognizes,” Mayer said.
The mission of the Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities, known as Riverside of Miami County to most citizens, is to empower children and adults with developmental disabilities to live, work and play as full members of the community.