Pass this on!!

I just wanted to say that why sign a law when that is used in the Special Olympics mission statement. I am glad that the M.R. word is replaced in the law. The other thing is that we should focus on the ability and leave the word disability out.

I think this is a beautiful thing to have happened we as disabled people are on our way to be treated equally, I am thrilled

Churnet Winborne

It's about time!!!!!

I am so glad to hear this, I have a special needs child and I hope this law is brought into Canada as well, I would be a wonderful thing.

I wonder how long this "official" term will maintain it's political correctness?
Mental retardation seemed to last pretty long.
Sticks and stones people, sticks and stones.
This is a ludicrious waste of money. er uh I mean
a "monetary anomaly". Now excuse me while I get back to watching the "Global Climate Disruption".

As a parent of a special needs child, I am very glad that the M.R term is being replaced! It is a sign of good things to come for all who are special!

This makes my day, year, life! finally! ♥♥♥♥

and another battle won for political correctness...and a loss for humanity. they are mentally retarded. that WAS the correct term before concerned parents got in the way and cried. They are disabled, they are mentally retarded. What they don't need are meaningless laws and this such as this just to name them. sheesh....we're in two wars and have a lot going wrong with the economy, and this gets signed.

Mental Retardation is a medical term. This is just too PC.
What's next, changing medical terms like vagina and penis to peepee and weewee? Give me a break.

Ridiculous. Here come ethics again to prove America's just going to hell in a basket.

You guys that are making the political correctness comments wouldn't say a word if a republican president had signed the law.

How retarded.

So if I start saying the words "mentally challenged" in a funny voice, will that eventually get banned? Same with the word special?

Why are you people so afraid of truth and accuracy? And what on earth does "equality" have to do with this???

Amazing how congress has the time to waste time with things like this, and doesn't ahve the time to extend the tax cuts.

Glad the law got signed. It used to be that the terms "mental retardation" did in fact, mean individuals with intellectual delays. But over the years it has become shorten to "retard" which is derogatory and hurtful. We should not have laws that contain this type of language. While we are at war abroad, the war against stereotypes is happening in our own yard and should be dealt with.

Bob- "... that WAS the correct term before concerned parents got in the way and cried. "

First off, thank you for stating that it was CONCERNED parents...I see nothing wrong with parents being concerned.
Secondly, it was society using the term inappropriately that led to this change. There are words out there that are not said because they offend certain groups of people. Why should this word be any different?

I am finally glad that they did something about it and eliminated the word. My son is a teenager now who suffers from autism. It took 5 years to officially diagnose him, but when he was a toddler, the specialists wanted to label him as "mentally retarded" because he could not pass a timed IQ test the specialists gave him at the age of 3. He could not even speak and was learning sign language. I personally know the girl that the law is named after,and she is the sweetest person you could know. She is a great Special Olympics athlete as well at the age of 9.

Thank you Don, Bob, dt, Amanda, Steve, and especially Jim for reminding me how much more work and educating needs to be done.

bout time someone did away with the label. that word has been banned in our home since my grandson was born.

Thank you to Rosa and her family

More politically correct crap. The technical names not more then 50 years ago where'moron' and 'stupid'. Mental retardation is now the big taboo? Now homosexuals are starting to want to stop people from saying "gay". Oops, opposite sex challenged. My bad.

Give me a break.

I think that it is awesome that a 9yr old can change the way of life for many. Yes it was changed, but it was changed with the help of a child, it just goes to show that even the smallest voice can be heard.

It's a word, get over it. Now when I hear "whatever the politically correct term of the moment is" the first thing I'll think is "oh retarded."

How much money is it going to cost and keep costing because people can't deal with words said to them.

I'm sure the homosexuals, gay, lesbian or whatever they are called this week are taking notes.

I'm sure in the not too distant future I'll be getting fined or going to jail because our politicians bend over to accomplish junk that puts their name on the front page.

I have a bad back, should I be called an orthopedic challenged person?

Another 'ATTACK" on the 1st Amendment. If the Retard doesnt learn early on that your Feelings are going to be Hurt from time to time, She will grow up with more problems to go along with her mental retardation! Next, Country music will be banned, and we will be REQUIRED to pray to ALA 3 times a day...............This is PATHETIC.

Are you people kidding me??????????????
Retarded is a hurtful word for all humans. I highly doubt it is a true medical term.
As I have a Down's Syndrome daughter, I thought I would not ever use that word, however, now I can.
Retarded means slow, stymied, well you ignorant people that oppose this law, I'm thinking you're retarded..a little slow on getting it.
I'm am devastated that this country has people like you in it.

Anyone who has anything bad to say about this is selfish. Yes there are other issues going on in the world, however, that does not mean that this issue is not important and the other issues have been forgotten. I'm sure if this directly affected you or someone in your life you would feel a lot differently. The word "retard" was never meant to be hurtful, it's people like some of you who started using it to offend others that created this. So all in all you can "blame" yourself for the passing of this law. Don't preach on other issues if you only care about yourselves and can't appreciate or open your mind and see the greatness of this. By the way whoever said it was a waste of money, it costs nothing to do this! I think it is a step in the right direction. What's wrong with trying to make the world a better place? It's actually really pathetic that people still use "that's retarded" or "you're retarded". Do we have no other vocabulary words to use? It just makes you sound uneducated.I'm sorry but if you're against this, you have no respect for others. If you don't have respect for others, don't expect it in return.

these children have so much love and aim so high to please. the word does not fit this group. It has been shown that they can care for themselves. I even had a kitten with downs sysdrom and Wink learned a little slower then the others but he was more affectect and demanded more love from me then some of the others. He had a few health problems but his playfulness and love made up for it. They are living things in gods eyes and we do the best with what we are delt with. We should not be a throw away society and take of all gods creations
we becom stronger by helping with lifes little quirps.

Yes it does make a difference- u don’t hear ur a down syndrome- u always hear ur retarded-as a mother of a very loving child with this disability- its about time - people with no interest in this subject r individuals that r not directly inpated with this subject

So, when is this going to stop? How can we keep the word "roach" in the lexicon because it is used in a hurtful and derogatory way towards those with the surname "Roach"? How can we keep the word "cracker" in the lexicon since it's used in a hurtful and derogatory way to refer to "those of pale skin"? Are parents not concerned with little Johnnie (girl or boy these days) comes home crying because little J was subjected to teasing because s/he is short? Gasp, I can't say "short"! I have to say "vertically challenged" to spare the feelings of those who are not tall. Good Lord! When will it end?! As we grow, we learn not to use derogatory terms. It is a process of growth. It is hard to grow up and some people NEVER do. I still have adults malign my last name and snicker when I say it. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.

Dear Steve

you will understand better when your child is born with Downs Syndrome

Amy, please note that there is no law denying the existence of words that are offensive to those certain groups of people. In the case of "mental retardation," of course people shouldn't use the term incorrectly. But in all seriousness, face the facts. I'm a person with special needs. I need glasses, and I can't run fast. I paint well. That makes me special too, doesn't it?

Every person has "special needs." Why don't we be a little more specific as to what kinds of needs they are?

DT, YOU just made my night!

My granddaughter has slight autism. Her older sister told me she was called retarded on the bus. No one can imagine how heartbreaking that was to me, unless you have been in that situation. Rosa made steps to make a change. She is a brave girl and the President is doing a good thing by listening to her.

In response to the person who said that the PC folks wouldn't be posting if a republican had signed it...you bet your bottom dollar we would. Even more so. I'm all for treating people right, but PC is destorying this country.

REtarded is a word, only a word.Its all in how the word is delivered!
Pretty soon the government will be telling you what to say and how to say it. The government need to take care of its fiscal problems and the wars its created. Its just a mateter of time before some people start using "intellectual disability" as a slang. Maybe you politically correct people or "PC" need to develope a language with just letters "The N said that if the R took D, and F and went down to H,P Q,R he saw the B" then everyone could make up what they think it means so it doesn't offend them.
The people who introduced this are retarded. (whoops I mean "MR"

Mental retardation was a term initiated around 1895 to describe someone as being mentally slow. I can imagine that the folks at the time thought it was a big improvement (ritard being a classy musical term for slow down)to replace the terms idiot, moron and imbecile which were the medical terms of that time period. Rosa's Law will in no way stop middle school kids from calling each other retards. You can't legislate common sense or civility. I have a profoundly retarded son. Saying that Seth has an intellectual disability doesn't improve his condition at all. Our family has always been offended by the term "retard." We probably always will. But changing the terminology isn't going to change the essence of the individuals involved. A Rose is a Rose - or more appropriately, a Rosa is a Rosa.

This is an insult to language. How is this any different from any form of government censorship? I'm not going to fall into the slippery slope and say that government is going to take out more and more words but this is scary to me. Language and music, two things humanity uses to express itself, and it is being limited. I'm going to use mental retardation whenever I want to, and as often as possible whenever situation permits because otherwise it'll be lost in a few hundred years, and who knows what other words will have disappeared by then... Also, it's a medical term, get over it. Just cause your children are retarded doesn't mean you have to cover up your inability to accept them with a linguistic bandaid.

By the way, I'm a fucking liberal so don't give me the "if a republican president signed this blah blah" bullshit.

For all of you who are offended by this new law. Here's some food for your soul. It is intensly unsettling to me to hear and see people use offensive language and gestures towards any Intellectually Challenged. Until you are a parent to a child like this, you do not know the hurt that is caused by words and actions. So if you think it was a waste of time for this to have happened and a waste of money, then I am seriously going to pray for your lack of intelligence, understanding and sensitivty for the parents and children who have this label.
As for the Special Olympics, that is another battle we will tackle and conquer. It will not happen over night but people will come to realize that words do hurt the child as well as the parent.

For Nancy Hoffman--

Using the term "A Downs' Syndrome daughter" places the emphasis on the syndrome and not your child.

Just think about it.

She is your daugher first.... your daughter with Downs' Syndrome. Until you get this right, you are as guilty as the rest of us.

And for the record, "retard" is wrong; "mentally retarded" and "intellectual disability," at least to me, mean exactly the same thing. Put it into the perspective of the PERSON--- a person with mental retardation or a person with an intellectual disability--- and it negates the need for all this PC crap.

This law is REATARDED!!

And for all those who are outraged when the world around them moves forward instead of remaining mired in decades old offensive jargon, rest assured that there is a 'politically correct' term for you as well. You are simply known as 'sensitivity challenged' and are happily ignored by the rest of the human race as we gladly embrace the twenty-first century and leave the 1950's behind.

"Mental Retardation" WAS a medical term. It is not the accepted medical term NOW.

You understand better when you work with these kids
everyday. These students does not label anyone as
his or her teacher, doctor or assistant. He looks at you as you are to him. They are sweet, loyal, honest, respectful, responsible, loving and caring
people. I go to work everyday because of them. They are amazingly wonderful students!

So many Republicans were posting on Facebook their doubts that he would even sign this law... It's funny that after he signed it, you never saw any posts from them about it! Why not? Hmmmmmm????

I think this is a grat law. My eleven year old son was supension for two days from school because he said "This pen is retarded". What did this prove. I think this is going over board.He did not refer to a human being but a ink pen.

Well to all of you that are giving stupid and not need comments, I am like the lady that said you must not have a son or daughter or family member with this condition. It is very hurtful and guess what it will no longer be just a word because they are taking it out of the dictionary also. Untill you have walked a mile in their shoes and beenn treated equal or tried to be, not comment is needed from you! Thanks and I proudly support the www.r-word.org. Go and see and hear for yourself how offensive it is. Teen agers use it like nothing but not one of them can tell you the definition of the word.

This is a great thing I don't know what you guys are saying my aunt is like that this law is a great thing. Like someone said you who oppose this law are just selfish and don't care about peoples feelings

I'm just going to be blunt here. It's good that they changed MR to something that will be more acceptable for people who have Intellectual Disability.. but for how long? Eventually, just like it always does, someone is going to be offended by this new term and it will have to change again. This is something that will never have a comfortable name. There will never be a good/respectful way to describe a person or condition which lacks the full capabilities of someone not I.D.

Disabled, Incapable, Inferior, Deficient, Retarded, Slow. Nothing will feel good or right because its still an uncomfortable subject.

I know you all are afraid that you will no longer be able to use one of the few terms you actually can spell, but perhaps you should read the law. It only mandates the change in federal documents, and it didn't cost much- we just changed it on the computer. Not to fear, no one is taking away your right to be mean-spirited, derogatory, offensive, low-class jerks! And yes, if you insist on hurting others by using intellectual disability as a curse word, than it, too, will be changed. Does it really matter to you? Those with disabilities can't help it, can't change it, can't control it. Grow up, get a job or a hobby. The tiny amount that this may affect you is nothing compared to the restoration of a little dignity for those with disabilities and their families. Attempt to pretend that you are actually human beings.

Beth, I'm not sure that I could have said it any better. Thank you.

Special Olympics no longer uses that word in their missions statement. They used to and I was opposed to their use of this term. This word is just as hurtful, demeaning, and hateful as using the n-word to refer to African Americans. We need to end the use of the r-word once and for all.

BTW, this will not interrupt anyone's free speech rights. No one is going to be arrested for using the r-word. But, some words are just unacceptable and this is one of them.

Really? Are people that stupid to come up with some of the criticisms about this law being past? If I use the "N" word here, my comment will not get posted. People will call me a racist for using such a term. I might even get my butt kicked or even shot if I yell it on the street. But it is O.K, in some of these other post, to use the word "Retarded". I have a son who has Down Syndrome and last year at school a "Black American" kid called him "a retarded piece of Sh**". Was that O.K? Did my son feel hurt and humiliated because of this? "Yes" and if my son had called this boy a N*****, he would have been expelled. So for me this means that there is a little acknowledgment that this word too is hurtful.