The Texas Advocates is recognized as the leader in self-advocacy in Texas. The Texas Advocates will fight to stop unfair treatment and advocate for more and better services and supports for people with disabilities to be included in their communities.

Respectful Language Position

Background:

• Many other states and organizations have made changes to use more respectful language to describe people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• According to the Arc of the District of Columbia thirteen states have current or pending laws, policies or positions in support of using more respectful language for legislative, operational and/or business matters.
• Several organizations including AAMR and The Arc of the US have adopted new terms to describe people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Issues:

• Texas Advocates believes that the use of the term “mental retardation” is offensive to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• The term is hurtful to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• The term is a medical diagnosis and should not be used to describe a person.
• People should not be labeled.
• People first language should always be used.

Statement:

• The term “mental retardation” should no longer be used to describe people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• An alternate phrase should be adopted by all organizations and agencies who serve and/or advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Recommendations:

• Texas Advocates adopts “intellectual and developmental disabilities” to replace any reference to the term mental retardation in any Texas Advocates publications, materials or positions.
• In light of the growing concern of self advocates to change the term, Texas Advocates recommends that all organizations and agencies who serve and/or advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should adopt a uniform phrase.
• Texas Advocates recommends these agencies and organizations adopt “intellectual and developmental disabilities” as the appropriate term.
• Texas Advocates recommends that all Texas laws and rules be amended to reflect respectful people first language.
• The term “intellectual and developmental disabilities” is intended to be used together as a phrase for purposes of defining and describing the development of intellectual disabilities prior to the age of 22.
• Texas Advocates recommends that the term “intellectual and developmental disabilities” should be further defined and codified to replace the term mental retardation in all agency rules and state and federal laws and regulations.

Adopted by the Texas Advocates Delegate Body, August 5th, 2006