The California Senate recently passed a bill that would permanently remove “the R word” from laws and other provisions. The purpose is to remove the word, (or the phrase), because it can be used to bully people who have certain types of special needs. It is also an outdated term, that should be updated.
The California Senate unanimously passed a bill called SB 1381. Before it can become a law, it will also have to be passed by the California House of Representatives, and then signed by the Governor. If SB 1381 becomes a law, it means that California will have joined 42 other states that have ended use of the term “mentally retarded” in laws and other provisions.
There has been an ongoing campaign to encourage people to stop using the word “retard” or “retarded”. Most of the time, when people choose to use those words, they are doing it because they want to make fun of someone, or to call someone names. Doing this is hurtful. The overall implication is that people who have intellectual disabilities are somehow less than other people, specifically because of their special need.
It is obvious that we, as a nation, need to change this perception. One way to do that is to remove the derogatory use of the “R word” from popular culture. Another great way to do it is to make changes in the laws that still contain wording that includes this phrase.
Bill SB 1381 was sponsored by The Arc of California and by United Cerebral Palsy in California. It is also supported by other groups. If it is made into law, it will replace the phrase “mentally retarded” with either “intellectual disability” or “a person with an intellectual disability”.
California State Senator Fran Pavley has pointed out that the word “retarded” is oudated and not in current professional use. She is the one who introduced this legislation that would change the wording in provisions of state law relating to educational and social services, commitment to state facilities, and criminal punishment.
It is expected that the bill will not cost the state extra money because the changes can be made during routine revisions to the laws that will take place in the next several years. It isn’t very often that bill, or law, is introduced that doesn’t cost the state money to implement!
Image by takomabibelot on Flickr