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Description
Feb.19, 2014 - Mayor Nutter signed into law a bill introduced by Councilman At-Large Dennis O'Brien that amends the Philadelphia Code by replacing references to "mental retardation" with references to "intellectual disability."
Interviewer/Producer: Teresa M. Lundy, City Council Media Fellow
Videographer/Editor: Joe Aquino, City Council Media Fellow
A
Good
afternoon,
and
thank
you
all
for
being
here-
I
am
very,
very
proud
too
soon
assign
a
bill
into
law
and
officially
amend
the
Philadelphia
code
to
be
more
inclusive
and
respectful
by
replacing
the
term
a
particular
term
which
I'm
not
going
to
use
and
going
forward.
We
will
use
the
appropriate
term
intellectual
disability
language,
like
everything
else,
must
change
with
the
times
the
time
is
finally
caught
up
and
I
would
suggest
way
overdue.
A
To
remove
this
demeaning
term
from
our
language,
and
certainly
from
any
official
communication
by
the
city
of
Philadelphia
term
in
question,
hurts
people
it's
disparaging.
It
is
used
in
very
hurtful
ways
by
any
number
of
folks
and
we
have
to
educate
and
re-educate
our
public
about
some
of
the
things
that
they
say
and
how
they
describe
a
certain
individuals
and
at
times
even
for
some,
I
would
suggest
they
don't
necessarily
mean
personal
harm,
but
nonetheless
the
effect
is
the
same.
A
It
places
an
implied
limitation
on
a
person's
abilities.
It
causes
unnecessary
and
harmful
confusion
by
transitioning
to
the
term
intellectual
disability
city
of
Philadelphia
is
in
fact
focusing
on
the
possibilities
and
the
opportunities
for
individuals
who
may
be
diagnosed
with
a
particular
disability,
rather
than
focusing
on
what
some
wrongly
think,
maybe
limitations.
A
A
The
City
of
Brotherly,
Love
and
sisterly
affection
has
long
prided
itself
on
its
welcoming
nature
and
its
willingness
to
embrace
every
this
change
to
the
Philadelphia
code
is
another
way
for
us
to
publicly
forcefully
demonstrate
that
we've
earned
the
right
to
be
a
City
of
Brotherly,
Love
and
sisterly
affection
to
the
tireless
advocate.
So
many
of
you
here
in
this
room
today
and
many
many
others
to
the
loving
and
caring
family
members
and
to
the
individuals
who
may
in
fact
have
some
intellectual
disability.
A
Many
of
you
are
here
with
us
today,
I'm
honored,
to
make
this
change
official
and
the
join
federal
and
state
entities
that
use
the
term
intellectual
disability
as
well.
And
now
I'm
going
to
ask
counsel
O'brien
who
is
champion
this
issue,
and
so
many
others
for
the
disabled
and
special
needs
community
to
give
some
remarks
as
well.
Counselor
Thank.
B
You
Vera
I'd
like
to
thank
the
mayor
for
taking
this
opportunity
to
do
this
ceremonial
signing,
but
it's
very
substantive
issue
and
we
have
to
celebrate
the
importance
of
this
event.
It's
timely
its
meaningful
and,
as
the
matter
said,
it's
long
overdue
and
we
need
to
celebrate
this
moment
and
it's
more
than
just
words
on
a
page,
as
he
can't
say
it
enough
words
and
language
are
powerful.
B
Events
like
this
recognize
that
we
shape
the
need
to
reshape
our
attitudes
and
our
assumptions
for
the
ID
and
the
autism
communities
it's
important
who
we
are
and
how
we
are.
But
it's
more
important
not
only
to
be
at
events
like
this
and
say
that
we're
not
going
to
use
this
word
anymore,
but
it's
more
important
for
all
of
us
to
think
about
reshaping
our
thinking
and
how
we
use
our
language,
not
only
in
forms
like
this,
where
we're
out
in
the
public,
but
behind
the
closed
doors.
B
There's
not
a
time
that
if
one
of
my
boys,
if
their
friends
inadvertently
uses
that
word
I
stopped
the
car
and
my
boys
look
and
their
friends
look
and
they
say
oh
you're,
going
to
get
it
now,
you're
going
to
get
the
full
monty.
I
said:
here's
the
deal
guys
if
you
use
the
word
to
get
warrant
next
time.
B
We
just
turn
the
car
around
and
then
we
leave
you
off
and
you
can
explain
why
you
use
the
word
and
you
think
about
it,
we're
going
to
come
back,
but
we
have
to
retool
our
use
of
language.
We
have
to
change
fundamentally
the
way
we
think
of
individuals
with
intellectual
disabilities
and
autism.
We
have
to
change
the
way
we
support
individuals
with
intellectual
disabilities
and
autism.
B
It
changed
me
as
a
person.
It
changed
me,
certainly
as
a
legislator,
and
but
it
made
me
a
better
dad
in
so
many
different
ways
and
I
have
to
tell
you
that
most
recently,
I
share
a
conversation
with
mr.
Shriver,
who
is
head
of
the
International
Special
Olympics
and
I
was
so
impressed
with
that
conference
because
they
empowered
individuals
that
advocate
for
self-determination,
I
havoc
ated
for
themselves.
B
So
in
the
Special
Olympics,
not
only
the
special
olympics
going
to
respond
individuals
with
intellectual
disabilities,
they
are
going
to
create
their
own
future
they're,
going
to
take
management
and
lee
positions
within
the
organization.
So,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
it's
important
we
learn
from
this
Community.
We
are
better
because
of
this
community
and
I
want
to
thank
all
of
you
for
being
here
being
part
of
my
life
and
I
want
to
thank
the
mayor
for
this
wonderful
celebration.
Today
we
celebrate
all
of
you
head.
C
That's
a
great
celebration
of
the
individuals
that
have
intellectual
disabilities
and
autism
that
I've
known
for
the
greater
part
of
my
professional
life
and
it's
a
celebration
of
who
they
are
and
how
they
affect
positively
all
of
us
by
who
they
are
and
how
they
are
in
the
world
and
they're
unspoiled
by
prejudice.
As
so
there's.
No
reason
why
we
should
have
to
visit
present
prejudice
upon
them,
and
this
is
more
than
ceremonial.
It's
instructive
to
everyone.
That
being
mean
and
being
diminishing
and
destructive
is
not
acceptable.
C
And
now
we
are
setting
standards
in
Pennsylvania
for
all
over
the
world,
and
standards
are
opportunities
to
bring
everybody
on
the
same
positive
plane
and
these
individuals
with
intellectual
disabilities
encouraged
us
to
change
our
definitions
of
diversity
so
that
we
can
find
opportunities
for
them
that
they
can
perform
well
at
the
airport.
At
the
Smithsonian,
are
wonderful
institutions
and
really
make
Philadelphia
the
first
disability
friendly
city
on
the
planet.