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The guide reinforces the spirit of legislation听听in 2010 by Governor Chris Christie that removes disrespectful language referring to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities from New Jersey statutes and regulations.
鈥淲ords matter,鈥� said Commissioner Velez. 鈥淭he use of outdated, derogatory terms is insulting and hurtful to individuals with disabilities and the people who love them. We鈥檙e hopeful this guide provides phrase alternatives that become instilled in the vernacular so we can eliminate the stigma of archaic vocabulary.鈥�
It is听听that one percent of the U.S. population has an intellectual or developmental disability, representing about 90,000 people in New Jersey. DHS currently serves about 43,000 individuals through programs in its Division of Developmental Disabilities.
The Commissioner noted that despite sophisticated, nationwide public relations campaigns by a host of service organizations promoting language or听听the 鈥楻鈥� word, the message has not resonated, as it should.听
鈥淭his is not about being 鈥榩olitically correct鈥�,鈥� said the Commissioner. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about respect. Our characteristics do not and should not ever define us.鈥�
