Why Are Intellectual Disabilities Stigmatized

Stigmatization of Intellectual Disabilities Why are intellectual disabilities stigmatized, and why do they continue to persist in the present day? This is a subject that is very dear to me, because I have interacted with people affected by these stigmas first hand. When I was in high school, I volunteered at a Special Olympics event every fall. Being at this event and working with the athletes really opened my eyes to the realities of the everyday struggles that people affected by these illnesses are faced with. Not only this, but I also gained insight about the stigmas they are prone to. Many others should be concerned about this stigma as well, if they hope to someday live in a world of equality and truly want justice for all. Why, in a world that preaches openness and acceptance, are those affected by mental retardation still considered inferior? Mental retardation is a condition that originates during the developmental period and is characterized by markedly sub-average intellectual functioning, resulting to some degree in social inadequacy. Throughout much of human history, society was unkind to those with any type of disability, and people with intellectual disabilities were commonly viewed as burdens on their
Terms used decades ago include idiot, imbecile and moron. These terms were replaced with “mentally retarded” and “disabled.” Also, in recent years, it has become increasingly important to emphasize the individual, not the person’s disability. For example, one would say “individuals with mental retardation” rather than “mentally retarded people.” People with disabilities want to be recognized for their abilities, not their disabilities. A real world example of a name change that occured is when, several years ago, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, changed its name to the Academy of Dentistry for Persons with