Illinois House: No more potentially hurtful words in laws describing people with 'Intellectual disabilities' : 05/08/2011

Diane S.W. Lee, Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — House lawmakers on Friday focused on the power of the written word.

Legislators approved a proposal changing the written description of the developmentally disabled in Illinois laws:

'Intellectual disability'

The terms "mental retardation" and "crippled" soon may be deemed taboo as definitions to describe mental health and developmental disabilities under Illinois statute.

Senate Bill 1833 would change "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded person" to "intellectual disability," and "intellectually disabled person." It also would remove "crippled" and "crippling," replacing it with the terms "physically disabled" and "physical disabling."

State Rep. Emily McAsey, D-Lockport, is chief sponsor of the plan.

"I urge the support of the members of this body to make our state more inclusive and remove hurtful terminology from our state statutes," she said.

House lawmakers unanimously approved the plan, and it now awaits action from the governor. The plan unanimously cleared the Senate last month.

Co-sponsor state Rep. Patricia Bellock, R-Hinsdale, said the plan would help to give respect to those with disabilities.

"I am a big proponent and advocate of people with disabilities," she said. "And I think this is bringing the terms that was used with disabilities out of the Middle Ages."