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Rosa's Law: A Family Advocates for Change in Washington
This past month, a new bill was enacted that will forever change the terminology used in government documents. The Marcellino family of Edgewater, MD were unhappy that their daughter Rosa's (who has Down syndrome) education plan labeled her "mentally retarded" so they advocated for change first at a local, then state, then national level. "Rosa's Law", signed into effect earlier this month by President Obama, officially ends the term "mental retardation" or "mentally retarded" in all labor, education and health laws. These words will be instead be replaced with phrases such as "intellectual disability" or "developmental disability", more suitable terminology used by advocacy groups for the disabled. Check out the video of Rosa and her amazing story below!
If the video will not play click here.
Another heartwarming example of how teamwork and advocacy can make a difference! What have you done as part of your team?
Comment
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Comment by Laura McDaniel on November 6, 2012 at 2:33am -
This is great news!
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Comment by Cecilia Cruse on June 2, 2011 at 10:55am -
Awareness is the first step towards making change. Let's hope all places will update terminology soon.
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Comment by Hillary Brumer on June 2, 2011 at 10:49am -
The state of Maine should check this out. We still have Mental Retardation as a classification. Seriously,
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Comment by Cecilia Cruse on October 20, 2010 at 1:44pm
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Yes Ida...Eunice Shriver was certainly a pioneer is this movment! I so agree, and it's great to see that amidst all the political strife going on these days in Washington that something wonderful like Rosa's Law emerged!
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Comment by Ida Zelaya on October 20, 2010 at 9:38am -
Fabulous, Cecilia... Eunice Shriver Kennedy used the term 'intellectual disability' for many years when referring to people who were called 'retarded' by others. The Grande Dame of the Special Olympics was light years ahead of her time, for sure. Congratulations to Rosa for making such a difference in this country!
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