Maryland school districts changes to people-first language; state drops MR term

From the Gazette in Maryland:

The Prince George's County school system's policy to put people before their disabilities — for example, referring to students as "students with disabilities instead of "disabled students" — may be duplicated on a statewide level.

Michael McLaughlin of Laurel, chairman of county schools' Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee, testified to a Health and Government Operations Committee hearing Jan. 27 in support of county schools' "people first language" policy.

The policy was adopted by the school board Dec. 1.

"It's just a little adjustment of putting the person first so people aren't defined by the disability," said McLaughlin, whose daughter, Erin, a student at Scotchtown Hills Elementary in Laurel, has Down syndrome. "I think that will affect attitudes if decision makers start seeing people with disabilities as people first and not their disability. They'll be more likely to be treated as equals."

The state bill, House Bill 20, changes references in state documents from "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" and would rename state facilities that serve people with mental retardation, such as Rosewood Center in Owings Mills and Holly Center in Salisbury, to centers for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Sponsored by Del. Theodore Sophocleus (D-Dist. 32) of Linthicum, the bill is expected to be voted on by the House this week.

Sophocleus said the bill removes derogatory words from state terminology on documents and communication.

"Mental retardation is terminology that should've been gone a long time ago," Sophocleus said.