"R word" being dropped from Ohio organization names

From UPI July 7:

DAYTON, Ohio -- A number of Ohio agencies say they are contemplating taking the words "mental retardation" out of their names because they carry a negative connotation.

Some employees of local and state agencies said they believe the slang term "retard" overshadows the proper use of the word "retardation," said a newsletter of the state Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

The Ohio Association of County Boards of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities is preparing to have a vote Oct. 27 to decide if the words "mental retardation" should be removed from its name, the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News reported.

The association said it will also be voting on whether to call on the Ohio Department of MRDD to remove the words as well.

Ten of 88 county boards in Ohio have removed the words from MMRD and several more are discussing taking the same action, the newspaper said.