I'm sure most of you will be aware that this was happening, but here's
the press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2006
CONTACT:
Anna Prabhala
Ph: (202) 387-1968, ext. 212
Email: [log in to unmask]
World's Oldest Organization on Intellectual Disability Has a
Progressive New Name
AAMR's name change draws applause from professional community and people
living with a developmental disability
Washington, DC (November 2, 2006)-The American Association on Mental
Retardation (AAMR), a 130-year old association representing
developmental disability professionals worldwide, has changed its name
to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities (AAIDD), establishing a new standard in disability
terminology and making way for a more socially-acceptable way of
addressing people with intellectual disabilities. The AAIDD is arguably
best-known for officially defining the condition of mental retardation
for the world, and its successful advocacy in abolishing the death
penalty for victims with this condition in the United States. The name
change will take effect January 1, 2007.
"This new name is an idea whose time has come," says Doreen Croser,
Executive Director of AAIDD. "Individuals with disabilities and family
members do not like the term 'mental retardation' and their advocacy is
encouraging political and social change at national, state, and local
levels. Our members demanded that we keep up with times and they voted
for this name change." AAIDD members consist of faculty members,
researchers, and service professionals working with people with
intellectual disabilities in settings such as group homes,
institutions, schools, hospitals, private clinics, colleges, and
university centers.
The name of the AAIDD has been an ongoing source of contention in the
disability community. While it is widely perceived that mental
retardation (MR) is a condition that exists, it was also recognized
that the term is prone to abuse, misinterpretation, and has devolved
into an insult, especially for people with disabilities and family
members. Further, the name AAMR was perceived as not in keeping with
the progressive orientation of the information, products, and services
offered by the Association.
The applause from the community of people with disability was unanimous
once the name change was announced. "In taking 'MR' out of your name,
you've set a precedent for it to be taken out of the classrooms, the
doctors' offices, personal case records, and eventually out of the
vocabulary of people walking down the street," says Amy Walker of
Illinois Voices, a group working on behalf of people with intellectual
disabilities.
Hank Bersani, current President of AAIDD explains, "Intellectual
disability is a more accurate and modern term, and is also in keeping
with terminology in Europe and Canada. We want to move away from any
use of the word 'retardation,' while still allowing educators and other
professionals to accurately describe the needs of the people they
serve. Further, with the new name, we are reminding our members and the
public that our mission has long included people with various
developmental disabilities." Most members of AAIDD work closely with
people with developmental disabilities since conditions such as autism
and Down syndrome often co-exist with an intellectual disability.
Despite the new name, the core mission of the Association still remains
the same-to promote progressive policies, sound research, effective
practices, and universal rights for people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities. The AAIDD has changed its name four times
since its inception is 1876. The Association last changed its name in
1987 to the American Association on Mental Retardation.
Apart from its definition and advocacy work, the AAIDD is well-known
for its journals, the American Journal on Mental Retardation and Mental
Retardation. In recent times, the Association has received critical
acclaim for the Supports Intensity Scale, a planning tool that empowers
people with intellectual disabilities to live a desired life by getting
services based on individual needs, not deficits.
Learn more about AAIDD at www.aamr.org.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Hastings, PhD, BCBA
Professor of Psychology and Acting Head of School
School of Psychology
University of Wales Bangor
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2AS
Tel: +44 (0)1248 388214
Fax: +44 (0)1248 383718
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.psychology.bangor.ac.uk/~richard_hastings
Gall y neges e-bost hon, ac unrhyw atodiadau a anfonwyd gyda
hi, gynnwys deunydd cyfrinachol ac wedi eu bwriadu i'w defnyddio'n
unig gan y sawl y cawsant eu cyfeirio ato (atynt). Os ydych wedi derbyn
y neges e-bost hon trwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i'r anfonwr
ar unwaith a dilëwch y neges. Os na fwriadwyd anfon y neges atoch
chi, rhaid i chi beidio â defnyddio, cadw neu ddatgelu unrhyw wybodaeth
a gynhwysir ynddi. Mae unrhyw farn neu safbwynt yn eiddo i'r sawl
a'i hanfonodd yn unig ac nid yw o anghenraid yn cynrychioli
barn Prifysgol Cymru, Bangor. Nid yw Prifysgol Cymru, Bangor yn
gwarantu bod y neges e-bost hon neu unrhyw atodiadau yn rhydd rhag
firysau neu 100% yn ddiogel. Oni bai fod hyn wedi ei ddatgan yn
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o Swyddfa Cyllid Prifysgol Cymru, Bangor. www.bangor.ac.uk
This email and any attachments may contain confidential material and is
solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you have received
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this email. If you are not the intended recipient(s), you must not
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views or opinions are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily
represent those of the University of Wales, Bangor. The University of
Wales, Bangor does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are
free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body
of the text of the email, this email is not intended to form a binding
contract - a list of authorised signatories is available from the
University of Wales, Bangor Finance Office. www.bangor.ac.uk
--
Gall y neges e-bost hon, ac unrhyw atodiadau a anfonwyd gyda hi,
gynnwys deunydd cyfrinachol ac wedi eu bwriadu i'w defnyddio'n unig
gan y sawl y cawsant eu cyfeirio ato (atynt). Os ydych wedi derbyn y
neges e-bost hon trwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i'r anfonwr ar
unwaith a dilëwch y neges. Os na fwriadwyd anfon y neges atoch chi,
rhaid i chi beidio â defnyddio, cadw neu ddatgelu unrhyw wybodaeth a
gynhwysir ynddi. Mae unrhyw farn neu safbwynt yn eiddo i'r sawl a'i
hanfonodd yn unig ac nid yw o anghenraid yn cynrychioli barn
Prifysgol Cymru, Bangor. Nid yw Prifysgol Cymru, Bangor yn gwarantu
bod y neges e-bost hon neu unrhyw atodiadau yn rhydd rhag firysau neu
100% yn ddiogel. Oni bai fod hyn wedi ei ddatgan yn uniongyrchol yn
nhestun yr e-bost, nid bwriad y neges e-bost hon yw ffurfio contract
rhwymol - mae rhestr o lofnodwyr awdurdodedig ar gael o Swyddfa
Cyllid Prifysgol Cymru, Bangor. www.bangor.ac.uk
This email and any attachments may contain confidential material and
is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you have
received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete this email. If you are not the intended recipient(s), you
must not use, retain or disclose any information contained in this
email. Any views or opinions are solely those of the sender and do
not necessarily represent those of the University of Wales, Bangor.
The University of Wales, Bangor does not guarantee that this email or
any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless
expressly stated in the body of the text of the email, this email is
not intended to form a binding contract - a list of authorised
signatories is available from the University of Wales, Bangor Finance
Office. www.bangor.ac.uk
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