Senate Approves Replacing "Mentally Retarded" in Law

By Richmond Digest
Friday, February 8, 2008; B05

The Senate passed a bill yesterday that would replace references in state law to "mentally retarded" with "intellectually disabled."

"This is a returning to dignity for a whole group of people who have been stigmatized over many, many years," said Sen. Patricia S. Ticer (D-Alexandria), who introduced the bill.

A similar bill is working its way through the House of Delegates. State financial analysts estimated that it would cost $75,000 to adjust signs, letterhead, business cards and other literature to reflect the change.