OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The term "mental retardation" would no longer be used in new state laws, under a bill that has passed the state House.
The bill sailed through the Legislature's lower chamber by a unanimous vote on Friday. It now goes to the Senate.
Under the measure, the phrase "intellectual disability" will be used in place of "mental retardation" in all future state laws.
Officials will also have to scrub "mental retardation" from old laws, when those statutes are revised.
Supporters say the term "mental retardation" is an outdated and insulting way of referring to people with intellectual disabilities.
The bill is House Bill 1835.
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Monday, March 2, 2009
Washington state dropping MR language from state's laws
From The AP: