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Why do people need to be cruel and use words like retard or retarded? Personally, I take offense of the use of the terms retard and retarded. Retard is used as slang in most instances meant to degrade a person. Most of the time the words retard or retarded are used in reference to a disabled individual. Retarded is also offensive, being a word from the past before there were answers and names given to people with different disabilities. I worked with special needs children. There is a name given to all of the different disabilities, and no need to label anyone with the word retard or retarded. Many of the children labeled as retarded are far from the mental image the words retard and retarded bring to mind. These words force such a negative light on those with special needs, and hurt the people in their families.

The caregivers of special needs individuals have a very hard life. I would challenge anyone to spend a day in the shoes of a person with special needs. Better yet, spend a day in the life of their caretakers. The mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings and all the others who love their special need children and adults. Once you have walked in either of their shoes, I am sure there would be a much greater respect for them. I also believe that once you have done so the words retard or retarded would be wiped from your vocabulary.

So much love that exudes from special needs individuals you would be hard pressed not to want to be near them and protect them from the hateful use of words such as these. In reality, it is not the children you are hurting by the use of these hateful, ugly words. You are hurting the caregivers, and the loved ones that give these special people dignity. For those who call each other retard or retarded, it is disrespectful to anyone. Retard and retarded are out-dated words and should not be used in our day-to-day in vocabulary.

I understand that retarded is a descriptive word that teachers, doctors and other caregivers must use from time to time. However, there are better words that can be used, especially when speaking to a special needs parent, sibling, caregiver or in front of a disabled individual.

Special needs children, adults and their caregivers have very hard lives. There is no need to cause such heartache and sadness these words can bring to all of them. Remember, disabled persons and their caregivers feel the use of these words as discrimination, as do many others. Why should we not be concerned for their rights just as we are for so many others rights? Think about it next time you throw these hurtful words around, and please do not take them lightly.

Learn more about this author, Mary Tyrer.
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