Today the Senate Transportation Committee heard and approved my bill to clean up our laws and remove labeling language and the term mental retardation. My co-sponsors, Senator Massie and Representatives Berger and Floyd Esquibel, and I have been working with some of my favorite people who belong to a group called People First and who happen to have developmental disabilities. People First is dedicated to the adoption of language to recognize that we are all people first even though we may have a disability. In addition we are working to remove language that over time has become increasingly offensive. For example, instead of saying “John is mentally retarded” we talk about John as a person with an intellectual disability. I found that there are 28 references to mentally retarded or retarded in the law, and there are other non People First references to the mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, and neurologically handicapped.
Today I had lunch with several of the People First folks. Many asked me if I would help to get rid of the “MR” word. I could tell from their voices that this is an issue of genuine concern and heartfelt intensity. Growing up in Lander in a different age, I can recall playground taunts along the same line. I confess to feeling a twinge whenever I hear the words. I am glad to help to get rid of the term from our law. Language does matter and the Senate Transportation Committee agreed, sending the bill to the floor with a 5-0 do-pass recommendation.
After a long day, I spent an enjoyable evening with some very bright young folks from St. Stephens Bureau of Indian Affairs School. St. Stephens is located in my district on the Wind River Indian Reservation. A long time ago, St. Stephens was a Catholic school. Now it is a public school charted by the federal government. St. Stephens has a duly elected school board. Because the federal government does not provide enough money, the State of Wyoming supplements the federal dollars. We do this for three reasons: 1) St. Stephens is a Public School; 2) the students of St. Stephens are citizens of Wyoming and deserving of the same education benefits as any other Wyoming student; and 3) If we did not supplement the St. Stephens budget to keep the school open, we would have to pick up the entire bill as the students went to other schools.
For some kids, the reservation can be a tough place to grow up. Tribal leaders and elders on the reservation have pulled together to give kids the best possible chance in life. Nowhere can you see this better than at St. Stephens where these leaders join with parents, staff, and the students are working to make a real positive difference in the lives of these fine young folks.
