Labeling people is a sensitive issue, especially for those with developmental disabilities. It is not an easy thing to change which is why there’s a major campaign to eliminate the “r-word.”

A 9-year-old Edgewater girl who inspired a new federal law was honored by President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony Friday for Americans with disabilities.

New York will finally update the name of the state office charged with ensuring fair treatment and quality-of-life to people with various developmental disabilities, not just by taking the “r” word out of the title, but by adding “people” to it.

The state Senate Health and Senior Services Committee has approved legislation that would remove demeaning and disrespectful terms for individuals with developmental disabilities from state law.

For the second time in a year, New York legislators are considering changing the name of one of the only state agencies in the country with “retardation” still in its title.

Last week I made a presentation at a conference on disability rights held at Union College in Schenectady, New York. I was invited by my former student, Joe Stramondo, who is now teaching philosophy in Michigan. The topic that our panel addressed was the impact of enhancement technologies on the understanding of disability.

Senators are preparing to eliminate all references in federal law to the terms “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded individual.”

Ginese is among a growing number of people across the nation working to halt use of the terms “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” and replace them with the terms “intellectual disability” and “an individual with an intellectual disability.”

The media and Sarah Palin need to chill out. Media commentators should help Palin find reasonable ground on the topic of Down syndrome. Most recently, Palin has fired shots at the “Family Guy” TV show for mocking her Down syndrome toddler, Trig.

Professor and author Christopher M. Fairman ["The case against banning the word 'retard,' " Outlook, Feb. 14] made good arguments about the limits of language to effect change in behavior and attitude, as well as about the nuanced ways in which words such as “retard,” “queer” and “gay” can carry multiple meanings, some of which intend no insult or humiliation.