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School director wording offensive

I am writing in reference to the May 19 apology by Hollidaysburg Area School Board member Lois Kaneshiki.

Kaneshiki used the word “retarded” on a Facebook post. She later apologized at a school board meeting, stating she did not realize the word was offensive.

The fact that she used language to disparage a newspaper article and in essence was mocking the article by calling it “retarded” should have been a hint that it was not a good word.

Any time you use a word in a negative fashion it is usually offensive.

There are probably many people who are not educated on “People First Language.” This movement is one where you always put a person before a disability and treat the person with dignity and respect.

Offensive words such as retard, idiot, moron or other similar language, should not be accepted in the 21st century. The referenced words were all, at one point, used as a medical diagnosis to describe someone with an IQ below 70.

A shift happened, and the words began to be used as slang with negative connotations.

The correct terminology when referencing a person who has a cognitive disability, a non-physical disability, is intellectual or developmental disability. Examples of an intellectual disability could include, among others, a diagnosis of Down syndrome or autism.

A developmental disability is a delay in development and again could include a diagnosis of Down syndrome or autism but also may include a definitive learning delay such as reading or speech delays, or a diagnosis of ADHD.

There are many different diagnosis’ that fall under the umbrella of an intellectual or developmental disabilities.

People with an intellectual or developmental disability are human beings with feelings who understand when they are being poked fun at.

It is not OK to make fun of anyone who is diagnosed with other medical conditions such as cancer or heart disease, and we need to change our culture to make it unacceptable to ridicule anyone with a medical diagnosis of intellectual disability.

Our world has changed a lot in the past 50 years. We are more inclusive and forego using disparaging words focused on one’s race, religion or sexual gender. It is time we also realize that every citizen is of value and can make contributions to our community.

We devalue our fellow humans when we continue to use words that are unflattering to their medical diagnosis.

Maria Brandt

Executive Director

The Arc of Blair County

Editor’s note: The Arc of Blair County has served individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1954.

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