Last spring I wrote an article about Life Enrichment Advancing People, Inc. (LEAP). I told you about the wonderful work this group does for people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities in Western Maine. In meeting With Rick Dorian, the executive director, I realized how fortunate I was and also began the uncomfortable discussion on how I refer to his consumers. Rick had invited me to a recognition “celebration” to eliminate the “r” word.
The “r” word you ask? The word is “retarded.” How often is this word used in our everyday conversation? We mean no harm by using it, yet we do not realize the profound effect it might have on people who have been given this “label.” I never thought the use of this word was hurtful.
In reviewing the “r” word campaign site I found this statement. “Some people have mental retardation (intellectual disabilities). While mental retardation is not a bad word, when used to describe someone or something you think is bad or stupid, it becomes another thoughtless and hurtful word. People with intellectual disabilities are not bad. Their condition is not bad. The prejudice and discrimination to people with intellectual disabilities is BAD… and WRONG! Please stop using the “r” word. It hurts individuals and families of those with disabilities.”
What a powerful statement!
I learned people with disabilities are PEOPLE. They have special abilities, interests and needs. The Maine Development Disabilities council’s publication “Put People First” coins the term “people first language.” This effort puts the person first in thought and word and emphasizes abilities and not limitations. They offered “Ten Commandments of Communicating with People Having Disabilities.”
(All of them can be found in the publication identified previously)
1. Speak directly to the person using a normal tone of voice.
2. Offer to shake hands.
3. Treat adults as adults.
4. Listen attentively,
5. Place your self at eye level when speaking with someone seated or in a wheel chair, and
6. Relax!
Actually this is good advice for everyday life.
It also bears noting that LEAP will soon be celebrating its 30th anniversary. This organization started out as one program serving six people on Anson Street in Farmington with a handful of staff. Today LEAP has an annual budget of nearly $5.3 million, a staff of nearly 170 staff members and supports nearly 100 people with disabilities, their families and friends in Franklin, Oxford, Androscoggin and Somerset counties. The supports and services have greatly evolved since its doors first opened.
LEAP’s Mission is focused on providing people with disabilities tools and resources to have the best health, to increase communication and to have the most experiences of joy in their lives as possible. Its services and supports are individualized and designed to build independence, choice and opportunity. You can find a great deal of information on LEAP and its services online at www.leapcommunity.org or by calling 778-3443.
This past spring I signed on to take the pledge to stop using the “r” word: “I pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.”
I challenge you to join me in pledging to use more inclusive & people first language and to consider how we all can be better neighbors to those around us who may have different abilities as wells as disabilities.
Thanks, Tom
As a father of a mentally disabled child, i often hear the “r” word tossed out by many people, and it is clear they have no idea what the ramifications of using it are.
Let me tell everyone when you sit down in the doctor’s office or school office and they start describing your child’s condition as mental retardation, its like someone has hit you in the chest with a sledge hammer.
Thank you for this article today. This morning I was bringing my daugther up to the bus she is 16 with mild MR and extreme learning disabilitys. While at the bus stop a bunch of teens were around using the “r” word like nothing. I did say something to them about it and how rude it is. Although I feel as though it is not my responsibility to teach these chilren that it is wrong. So out of all days that I read this it happened to be on the day that I had to deal with this problem. Thank you for addressing this issue.