Karen Gross, Marcia Levy, Texas Sen. Kirk Watson, Steve Adler

ADL Partners with the Arc of the Capital Area

Date: September 21, 2010

ADL's Austin Council recently partnered with the Arc of the Capital Area at an Austin City Hall event to kick off an awareness campaign illuminating some of the civil rights challenges faced by individuals with special needs.  The event also reminded Austinites that all people deserve to be treated with respect. 

Arc of the Capital Area- a nonprofit organization committed to promoting independence and choice by creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities- and ADL were joined by Senator Kirk Watson,  who emceed the event, and Mayor Lee Leffingwell who presented a City proclamation proclaiming Austin a city of respect.

The theme of the event was a campaign to eradicate the use of the word "retarded," called the "R" word by Arc, and make the new "R" word "Respect."  Mental retardation is a medical diagnosis and should not be a pejorative term to be used against a group of people, but. the word "retarded" has become a derogatory label used negatively to ridicule individuals. Instead of a diagnosis, the term has become a hurtful slur.

This campaign is one step towards dramatically changing the attitude of society and the perception of people with disabilities.  ADL participated because it protects the civil rights of all individuals, including those with disabilities.

The Austin Council of ADL looks forward to exchanging educational resources with the Arc and helping providing more information on this topic to teachers and students through its No Place for Hate® program.