It’s an offensive word, meant in an offensive way
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Actually, it is a perfectly acceptable word used in the context of special education today. When my daughter was earning her Master’s degree in Sp. ED. she was using the word repeatedly in her thesis.
I told her that back in the day it was considered rude and she said it isn’t rude now but is used to describe the students who will benefit from sp. ed. classes and quite acceptable. She graduated. BTW and is a great teacher.
Do you mean calling someone with special needs a “retard”? I do not think so. I am not far from that field myself, and you might hear “MR” or MAYBE “retarded”, but I have NEVER heard a professional call someone with differences a RETARD. I don’t believe you.