In the new campaign to "end the R-word" I've gotten a lot of comments to the effect of "Joey isn't retarded, what do you care?"
Just for a moment, let's put aside the fact that we are all human beings, a huge thing to put aside.
One of the organizations that does a great deal here for autism and services, especially adult services, is the ARC. For those who are unaware, and it take a bit of initial digging to discover, this organization's name stands for Association of Retarded Citizens. Originally set up to support people with mental retardation, it has became apparent that many of these citizens were actually autistic, yet still require advocates and supports. The ARC has stepped up to the plate to include many intellectual and cognitive disabilities; autism, with its outward signs of communication and social challenges, is included.
Please check out the ARC and what it does in your area.
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2 comments:
its ridiculous isn't it, in this day and age, people still use words like this...its like the word spastic...haven't heard it for years, but the other day I heard someone say it, i explained (calmly)that it was unacceptable, and we say Cerebral palsy now...
derogatory terms drive me crazy...
I really think banning a word does no good if you don't also change the public attitude that make that word an insult in the first place. If that kind of prejudice didn't exist, then "retard" would be a neutral term.
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