Ohio Joins Other States in Removing Condition of “Mental Retardation” from State Agency’s Name

Thanks to Than Johnson of Champaign Residential Services, Inc. for reporting to ANCOR that the “Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities” will be changing its name, following passage of bills unanimously by both state legislative chambers, to drop the term “mental retardation.” Governor Ted Strickland signed the legislation on June 7th—which becomes effective in 90 days of enactment—renames the agencgy the Department of Developmental Disabilities. More than 40 other states have made similar changes by removing the term “mental retardation.” Individual Ohio county “MR/DD boards” have already begun changing their names.