Comment from Mooney, Timothy, Erie Business Center

Labels in American society are a major factor in the proformance and the self esteem of an individual. As children we live out the labels that we are given. These labels often become crutches that stagnate our growth and developement. For instance as a child I was said to have a learning disability. This effected me in such a way that I began to live out that label. I had no motivation to try in school because my teachers and parents convinced me that I would never thrive on a "normal" level. It was not until my mother got me a tutor that she learned that there was nothing wrong with me at all. After individual sessions my tutor found out that my problem was behavioral, not mental. In short, I was bored in school because the work was not challenging enough. So I went from being considered learning disabled to going to a school for the gifted in a matter of two years. If it hadn't been for that tutor I would have spent have entire academic career taking "slow" classes and never achieving my full potential. To label a child retarded stops him from trying, stops the teachers from pushing, and stops the parents from expecting academic achievements. Changing the term from mental retardation to intellectual disability is a step in the right direction. It will work wonders for the childs self esteem because he will not have to live with the stigma that comes with being labeled retarded. I am all for the change and our children will thank you for it.