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	<title>&#34;End the R-word in Florida&#34;</title>
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		<title>Governor Rick Scott Signs Intellectual Disabilities Bill Into Law and Helps End the R-word in Florida</title>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:33:11 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Senate Bill 142 Passed Unanimously in Florida Legislature Tallahassee, FL (June 14, 2013) – Gov. Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 142, the Intellectual Disabilities Bill, into law today in Tallahassee.  The bill, which was passed unanimously by the Florida Legislature in April, removes the phrase “mental retardation” from state statutes and replaces it with “intellectual disabilities.” “I hate that word,” said Elizabeth O’Brien, a self-advocate from Spring Hill, who has greatly suffered from people calling her “retard.”  A group of kids once threw rocks at her and she has never forgotten it.  O’Brien was relieved to learn that Senate Bill 142 will officially become law on July 1.  “I’m glad he signed it.  That makes me very happy.” The Arc of Florida, a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, spent three years working to pass the Intellectual Disabilities Bill.  Senate Bill 142 was sponsored by Sen. Thad Altman (R-Melbourne.)  The House version of the bill, House Bill 1119, was sponsored by Rep. Janet Adkins (R-Fernandina Beach.) “Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature are to be commended for taking a stand against the R-word,” said Michele Poole, president of The Arc of Florida. “This is a significant step forward in the fight to end bullying against people with intellectual disabilities.” “Mental retardation” was once considered a valid medical term, but over the years, it was twisted into a hurtful slang word that promotes negative stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities.  The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and American Psychiatric Association changed their official diagnoses from &#8220;mental retardation&#8221; to &#8220;intellectual disability.&#8221; Federal health, education and labor policy statutes were changed in 2010 when Congress unanimously passed and President Obama signed &#8220;Rosa&#8217;s Law.&#8221;  The Social Security Administration recently announced its intent to make the change to its official &#8220;Listing of Impairments.&#8221; For more information on the End the R-word in Florida campaign, visit www.norword.org.]]></description>
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		<title>Floridians with Intellectual Disabilities Ask Governor Rick Scott to Sign Intellectual Disabilities Bill and End the R-word in Florida</title>
		<link>http://www.norword.org/floridians-with-intellectual-disabilities-ask-governor-rick-scott-to-sign-intellectual-disabilities-bill-and-end-the-r-word-in-florida/</link>
		<comments>http://www.norword.org/floridians-with-intellectual-disabilities-ask-governor-rick-scott-to-sign-intellectual-disabilities-bill-and-end-the-r-word-in-florida/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:50:50 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Florida Legislature Passes Senate Bill 142 Unanimously Tallahassee, FL (April 30, 2013) – Floridians with intellectual disabilities are asking Governor Rick Scott to sign the Intellectual Disabilities Bill into law after the Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed the measure today.  It will remove the phrase “mental retardation” in state statutes and replace it with “intellectual disabilities.” “I’m excited about the changes,” said Brittany Norman, a woman with Down Syndrome from Leon County who testified in favor of the bill at a House committee meeting earlier this month.  “Over the years, many people have called me a retard, and it makes me feel empty inside.” Norman was in the House gallery when the final vote was taken.  “Thank you Sen. Altman, Rep. Adkins and the entire Legislature,” said Norman.  “You are my heroes.” Senate Bill 142 was sponsored by Sen. Thad Altman (R-Melbourne.)  House Bill 1119, which was replaced by SB 142 after unanimous passage in the Full Senate last week, was sponsored by Rep. Janet Adkins (R-Fernandina Beach.) “We launched the End the R-word in Florida campaign after so many people we serve asked for a change,” said Michele Poole, president of The Arc of Florida.  “Governor Scott has an opportunity to do something that at least 39 other states have done.  He can sign this bill into law and help end the bullying that thousands of Floridians with intellectual disabilities face every day.” Once considered a valid medical term, the R-word has become a hurtful slang that promotes negative stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities.  The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and American Psychiatric Association changed their official diagnoses from &#8220;mental retardation&#8221; to &#8220;intellectual disability.&#8221; Federal health, education and labor policy statutes were changed in 2010 when Congress passed and President Obama signed &#8220;Rosa&#8217;s Law.&#8221;  The Social Security Administration recently announced its intent to make the change to its official &#8220;Listing of Impairments.&#8221; For more information on the End the R-word in Florida campaign, visit www.norword.org.]]></description>
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		<title>Intellectual Disabilities Bill Closer To Final Passage</title>
		<link>http://www.norword.org/intellectual-disabilities-bill-closer-to-final-passage/</link>
		<comments>http://www.norword.org/intellectual-disabilities-bill-closer-to-final-passage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:53:00 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Tallahassee, FL (April 29, 2013) – The Florida House of Representatives read the Intellectual Disabilities Bill today for the second of three readings.  Rep. Janet Adkins, sponsor of House Bill 1119, withdrew her bill and replaced it with Senate Bill 142, which passed the Full Senate unanimously last week.  Senate Bill 142 is sponsored by Sen. Thad Altman. The Intellectual Disabilities Bill removes the phrase “mental retardation” from state statutes and replaces it with “intellectual disabilities.”  A final vote is expected to take place on Tuesday.  Once the measure passes the Full House, it goes to Governor Rick Scott for his signature.]]></description>
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		<title>Florida Senate Passes Intellectual Disabilities Bill Unanimously</title>
		<link>http://www.norword.org/florida-senate-passes-intellectual-disabilities-bill-unanimously/</link>
		<comments>http://www.norword.org/florida-senate-passes-intellectual-disabilities-bill-unanimously/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:40:20 +0000</pubDate>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.norword.org/?p=498</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tallahassee, FL (April 24, 2013) – The Florida Senate passed the Intellectual Disabilities Bill unanimously on Thursday.  Senate Bill 142 is sponsored by Sen. Thad Altman and co-sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley and Sen. Eleanor Sobel. The Intellectual Disabilities Bill would remove all references to “mental retardation” in state statutes and replace them with “intellectual disabilities.”  House Bill 1119, sponsored by Rep. Janet Adkins, heads to the Full House next for consideration.  If the House passes the bill, it will be sent to Governor Rick Scott for his signature.]]></description>
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		<title>Mother of Self-Advocate Asks Governor and Legislature To Support Intellectual Disabilities Bill</title>
		<link>http://www.norword.org/self-advocates-mother-asks-governor-and-legislature-to-support-intellectual-disabilities-bill/</link>
		<comments>http://www.norword.org/self-advocates-mother-asks-governor-and-legislature-to-support-intellectual-disabilities-bill/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:55:24 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Senate Bill 142, the Intellectual Disabilities Bill, is being taken up by the Full Senate on Tuesday.  Ana Maria Miyares will one of many closely watching the vote.  Her son, Andy, has an intellectual disability.  Ana Maria is asking legislators and Governor Scott to support this important piece of legislation and End the R-word in Florida.]]></description>
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