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‘Intellectual disability' replaces ‘feeble-minded'

Outdated and disrespectful terminology that refers to persons with developmental disabilities will be removed from New Jersey statutes and regulations under legislation signed Monday by Gov. Chris Christie.

The new law eliminates references such as "mental retardation," "mentally retarded" and "feeble-minded," replacing the terms with "intellectual disability" or "developmental disability." All future legislation will encompass these changes.

"We live in the 21st Century and our laws must reflect that distinction," Christie said at a bill-signing ceremony in Trenton. "Those with intellectual disabilities are an important part of the fabric of New Jersey. Using antiquated, degrading terms to describe individuals with disabilities is an affront to the integrity of the person and their family, and below our common decency as a people. I am proud to move the language of New Jersey's laws and regulations beyond such terminology."

The legislation replaces references in Title 30 of the Revised Statutes to "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" with the terms "developmentally disabled" and "developmental disability," The changes also reflect the fact that the state Division of Developmental Disabilities serves all persons with developmental disabilities.

"For New Jerseyans living with developmental disabilities, words matter," Senate President Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said. Sweeney's daughter, Lauren, has Down Syndrome. "The fact is that individuals with disabilities are not defined by their disability, but by the strength and character they exhibit in overcoming their disability. This new law will help to modernize New Jersey's laws in order to remove archaic, disrespectful and hurtful terms which serve to minimize and marginalize the person in favor of their disability."

In addition, two inoperative statutes were repealed. One established the E.R. Johnstone Training and Research Center, which closed in 1992, and the other authorized the commissioner of Institutions and Agencies to regulate hospitals and other health care facilities, a responsibility transferred to the Department of Health and Senior Services in 1971.

"Our law books and statutes should not use painful, disrespectful terms which clearly show disregard for the individuals living with developmental disabilities," said Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), the vice chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. "This new law will correct the mistakes of the past and hopefully foster more respect and recognition for people who have not let their disabilities define them."

"Language used in reference to individuals with intellectual and other disabilities shapes and reflects the attitudes of society toward persons with disabilities," Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), a co-sponsor, said. "Certain terms are demeaning and disrespectful, and create a barrier to the inclusion of people with intellectual and other disabilities as valued members of our community. It's time we got rid of them for good."

The legislation was also sponsored by Assembly members Thomas P. Giblin (D-Essex), Albert Coutinho (D-Essex), John J. Burzichelli (D-Gloucester) and Louis D. Greenwald (D-Camden).

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM