Ohio agencies rethinking ‘mental retardation’ label in their names

CLEVELAND (AP) — Ohio agencies are grappling with whether they should keep the label “mental retardation” in their names as counterparts across the country do the same.

Forty-three states have nixed the phrase for other descriptions, such as “developmentally disabled.”

But Ohio’s state agency — the Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities — has stuck with its traditional name.

Ten of 88 county agencies have unofficially changed their names to use “developmentally disabled.”

Ohio is one of a few states where county boards must raise money through property taxes to pay for services.

Spokesman Lon Mitchell of the Lucas County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities says voters may be more familiar with “mental retardation.”