In 2009, the Ohio General Assembly passed a law to eliminate the term “mentally retarded” from state law.
But Democratic State Sen. Eric Kearney of Cincinnati and Republican State Sen. Peggy Lehner of Kettering have found that the term is still used in some portions of the code. So, as Kearney explains, they’re calling for another sweep through Ohio statute.
“It’s inflammatory and kind of insulting to certain people in that community," Kearney said, "and so we want to make sure Ohio law is appropriately tailored so that we can provide services to people who are in the developmentally disabled community.”
Another term that’s deemed more appropriate is “intellectually disabled.”
Kearney believes this bill will have strong support and pass either during the lame duck session or in the next General Assembly.
