Abandoning the Myth of Mental Retardation

Autor/in	Smith, J. David
Titel	Abandoning the Myth of Mental Retardation
Quelle	In: Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 38 (2003) 4, S.358-361 (4 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1547-0350
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Mental Retardation; Developmental Disabilities; Misconceptions; Definitions; Student Diversity; Individual Characteristics; Attitudes toward Disabilities; Consciousness Raising; Classification + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Geistige Behinderung; Entwicklungsstörung; Missverständnis; Begriffsbestimmung; Personality characteristic; Personality traits; Persönlichkeitsmerkmal; Bewusstseinsbildung; Classification system; Klassifikation; Klassifikationssystem
Abstract	In this article, the author talks about the concept underlying the term metal retardation and the effort to define it in a way that is scientifically accurate and in a way that promotes greater sensitivity to the needs of people described by the term which has been continuous for centuries. The author states that a scientifically sound and socially helpful definition of the term may not be achievable. He opines that it is time to admit that the term mental retardation is, to use Thomas Ssasz's words "scientifically worthless and socially harmful." It is time to face the reality that it is a manifestation of typological reasoning that has created a false and unhelpful categorization of people with very diverse needs and characteristics. Although the implications of abandoning the term for resource allocations and the provision of services must be carefully addressed, the term mental retardation should become an historical artifact of the evolution of the people's thinking about children and adults with developmental disabilities. The millions of people within the spectrum of developmental disabilities who have been described as mentally retarded deserve this change in the manner in which they are regarded and treated. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	Division on Developmental Disabilities, Council for Exceptional Children. DDD, P.O. Box 3512, Fayetteville, AR 72702. Tel: 479-575-3326; Fax: 479-575-6676; Web site: http://www.dddcec.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10