[circlecity]

"The word “retarded” did not carry the stigma it does today when Bawbwah was growing-up."

Right. Prior to "retarded" the accepted term was "imbecile". Then imbecile was regarded as having negative connotations so the term "retarded" started being used as the more neutral term. Then "retarded" started being considered negative so the current "intellectually challenged" started being used. It seems that whatever term is being used, as soon its meaning becomes widely understood it is considered as negative.

[SoldierDad]

Obozo, through an executive order, removed the use of the term “retarded” and replaced it with “Intellectual Disability”. This is what we are using in assessing student’s IQ for anyone with an IQ score of 70 or below, combined with adaptive skill deficits.

[Monterrosa-24]

Imbecile is a specific IQ range. The wide range earlier term for mentally challenged was “feeble minded”.

[Marcella]

“Mentally Retarded” was the professional term we used when I/we psychologically tested anyone, children or adults. If their IQ was in the “Mentally Retarded” range, that was the diagnosis. Those words mean nothing derogatory to me and I used them when appropriate. Politically Mentally Challenged means Mentally Retarded. Shish.

In elementary school, in days before now, the good readers might be the “Red Birds” and the poor readers were the “Blue Birds”, but the students knew Blue Birds meant they couldn't read worth diddly. Then, maybe the names were changed and good readers were “Blue Birds” and poor readers were “Red Birds” - but it didn't matter, all the students knew which group could read “good” and which couldn't.

In testing, “Manic Depressive” was the term/diagnosis we used. Now, it's “Bipolar” and it seems everyone wants to be one of those - “I'm Bipolar - isn't that great!”, which is still “Manic Depressive” by another name. There are few people who actually are Manic Depressive or Bipolar. Shesh.