Mental Challenged Support Group

I know what you mean. I hate mental retardation also. We do not call it that in our house. Mentally challenged works. Developmentally Cognitivally Delayed or DCD also works. MR seems like a really derogatory word and I would be in favor of not using it as well. Just my opinion.

Kim

I agree! I always found mentally retarded as being insulting. I think learning disabled is a better choice. Thanks for bring this up. Hugs, Vicky

i agree, i was on this board a couple of months ago and brought up the same concern. at our house we do use special needs childs, or mentally challenged. i did write 'retarded in my intro because it was the title for the board. i also find it derogatory. maybe we could write to doug and we could get the name changed here at ds. thanks, judy

I always say "has mental retardation" just like I refer to kids "with autism" or "with downs syndrome". It seems more respectful to me.

Dear Mommy, I can't tell you how much I agree! My son's 22 now and he absolutely hates those kinds of labels. He can't even stand the mentally challenged (although while he was still in school, we used that one). He finally was called "low average, w/a speech impairment" and that one we can say around here. He also didn't mind the other one, it was Pervasive Developmental Delay, so maybe we should throw these around Doug and he can figure something out. Thanks for posting this. Your friend, Ann

I agree with you all about not enjoying the term, but unfortunately, mental retardation is the "politically correct" term deemed by law. Personally, I think the term has placed us, as a society, back a few decades.

I was going to make the same point. Since this discussion board is already under the global term of developmental disabilities. I think we should go with mentally challenged. Has anyone talked to Doug about this? Maybe we should take a vote and take the results to him. Hugs and more hugs, Donna

When I go to work, I hate hearing the word retarded in reference to a child. When I am at the special education office, I hear it spoken, and I just cringe. I just don't like it. I cannot imagine having a child in this case and having to hear it.

To me the term "retarded" means the condition is degenerative, getting worse. My son is not retarded as he does learn new things - it just takes him a lot longer.

I may be naive but when doctors told me my son had global developmental delay I did not realise they meant mental retardation. This meant his school was unaware and I was extremely shocked when he finally underwent cognitive testing in yr. 4. I personally would have recognised the implications if I had been given the blunt terminology and teachers would not have thought he was just not trying. Ryan was and is a very good reader which contributed to the confusion.