Why do Americans still?

Question

use the term mental retardation instead of intellectaul disablity
do not have seperated disable toilets
Mix up the Paralympics with the Special Olympics

sorry if I am wrong but that is what I get from reading some question and answers.

Answer 1

"Mental retardation" is used in the USA a lot because people with disability are usually perceived from a MEDICAL point of view. It is the way things are over there.
Also - as much as there have been decades of the disability rights movement - people in general still view someone with intellectual disability to be worth less as a human in society. Sad but true. (People will probably gie me thumbs down for this, but it won't change the truth.)

The term "Intellectual disability" is from a social science / humanist point of view. The term dignifies the person. He is a PERSON first - who has - an intellectual disability (ie - a disability is only part of who he is as a human).

Separate toilets - well, that is not an easy issue to resolved. I think the disability right movement initiated a good thing, but no one thought it through well enough. And now, many years later - it is too late to make the right changes. I could be wrong. May be someone can give provide a better explanation.

Paralympics are NOT mixed up with Special Olympics! It is just that the USA is more interested in Special Olympics than the Paralympics. In the USA, Special Olympics has more exposure at local community level than the paralympic movement.

RockaSta: No need to get heated. Nowhere in the question did the asker implied she was offended. She simply wants an explanation.

This is NOT about political correctness. Language is a poweful thing. It can project positive or negative attitude of how the speaker see the person with the disability. Disability language is not about political correctness but is about making a proper description and relevance without stereotyping and labelling.
It is NOT about euphemisms either! Words like "vertically challenged" is an example of euphemism. It is ok to say the word "short".

Hope this answered your question AND explained a few things to everyone.

Answer 2

Well speaking in terms of someone quite smart it is not only Americans who use this term but it is wide spread. What about the fact that there are some public places still where they havnt accomodated for people with disabilities in communication methods.

People mix up the Parylympics with the Special Olympics because some people are just naieve and dont see the difference, both groups have disabilities and that is the way it is viewed.

As for disabled toilets I would find it quite strange in America that they dont accomodate for these people, what planet are they on.

Answer 3

Most people are not knowledgeable about disability--and unfortunately, mos t of what they think they know comes from sappy TV "human interest" stories that usually portray some "struggling poor disabled person who has managed--with lots of help from the kind "real people"--to become something more than avegatable"--with the implication that a miserable hopless existance is only to be expected.

Or from movies like "Million Dollar Baby"--a film that the Motion Picture Academy honored for its bigoted and spteotyped "portrayal" of a supposed person with a disability.

As to your specific points, however--evem many so-called "professionals" are continuing to use the term "retarded"--even though they know full well it's not an accurate term, quite aside from the fact that it has acquired a deragatory connotation. But then, there are a lot (but--by no means all) who are not interested in actually helping persons with disabilities, but in using them as a means of promoting their own careers and social status as "good-hearted and selfless" They make me retch.

There are plenty of accessible restrooms in most areas now--they usually aren't seperate, no is their any reason to make them so.

As to the Paraolympics/special Olympics--tht goes back to the lack of knowledge generally.

Answer 4

Let us clarify. Mental retardation refers to "an abnormal slowness in thought" usually caused by a congenital condition or brought on by damage to a portion of the brain. Intellectual disability is one's inability to think rationally and would refer either not being "book smart," have "no common sense" or both (i.e. some American feel George W. Bush is intellectually disabled but does not have mental retardation).

There is no need for a separate toilet for mentally disabled individuals. There are separate stalls (not bathrooms) to accommodate the physically disabled. This is an ADA requirement for most if not all public places.

Paralympics are held for athletes with physical disabilies. Special Olympics are held for athletes with mental disabilities.

Answer 5

Hi,

'Mental retardation', 'intellectual disability', 'simple', 'retarded' and almost anyother tern used to describe people who's mental capacity has not developed fully, (as 'normal') are all terms used by people, not just in America to attempt to speak about such people without causing offence. In other words 'Political Correctness Rules'

America, in fact has one of the better records on disabled access to toilets, parking and entry to public buildings and stores.

Mixing up the 'paralympics' with the 'special Olympics' has probably more to do with the political correctness groups than it does with any intention to ridicule or look down on participants.

I am disabled, though I'm now told I can't call myself that-I should be called (so the PC lobby tell me) 'motionally challenged' ...what?

I think you'll find there are groups of people who take it on themselves to decide what I, and many other groups of people, should be called, so that I don't get embarrassed.

I'm more 'embarrassed' (or at least annoyed) at the attempts by these, possibly well-meaning, but nevertheless extremely annoying activists. 'Motionally challenged', for God's sake!

This jewel came in a letter to me from an English County Council a couple of years ago, after I wrote to them regarding wheelchair access at a council facility I needed to visit while on a forthcoming visit to England.

Was the revolving door changed?

Well I sat outside, unable to enter for 15 minutes in pouring rain until someone could be found to fold back the doors to enable me to enter! I couldn't even reach the bell, as it was too high up the wall to reach while sitting in a wheelchair.

So, yes, some Americans DO use the term, I'm sure, as many still use the offensive derivative for Afro-Americans which came from a word used to perfectly describe their skin colour...'*****', meaning 'black', it has become, then been dismissed at times from 'black' to 'coloured' to 'person of colour' to 'afro-American' and so on. Do these people ASK to be called by any of these terms? No, we are told that we must call them that to 'avoid causing them embarrassment'

I'm pretty sure, that if anyone ever bothered to ask them, they would just like to be known and treated as 'Americans'.

And it isn't just a problem over there, but in the UK, in Spain, and in almost every country.

Cheers,

BobSpain

Answer 6

Maybe because they are the ones who are truly intellectually disabled.

Answer 7

um im in a wheelchair...how do you expect me to get my very wide wheelchair into a small bathroom stall??? am i just supposed to hold it??? think before you speak.

Answer 8

well a retard is a retard is a retard,how more plain can U be.

Answer 9

hawkster u lame *** dork. anyways its just slang like we dont say either of the first two usually its just "retarded," easier.

Answer 10

wow look its the word police!! did the word offend u!?!??? awwww.. call the ACLU! or get some euro trash to help me. its a WORD! and if it offends u deal with it! stop being so damn sensitive!!! arrgghh!!! what is all this politically correct bull ****!!