They’re not ‘retarded’! Councilman pushes use of ‘developmentally disabled’ monicker

January 9, 2013 Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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City Councilman David G. Greenfield on Wednesday called on New York City to end its use of the term “mentally retarded” in all official documents. State and federal governments have already dropped the term, but the city’s Departments of Education and Health still use it. Advocacy groups consider its use outdated and even offensive.

Greenfield and Speaker Christine Quinn want to replace the term with the words “developmentally disabled.”

According to Wikipedia, in 1895 the term “retarded” started replacing words like “imbecile” because retarded was not at that time a derogatory term. By the 1960s, however, the word had taken on a partially derogatory meaning. The Special Olympics, Best Buddies other organizations are trying to eliminate its use in everyday conversation.

Greenfield represents the 44th council district, which includes Bensonhurst, Boro Park and Midwood.

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