Where is this law? You can get arrested for calling someone retarded? I'm sorry but the whole definition of retardation and it's use in medical books to describe an irregularity is a proper word. (yes I've heard it's been taken from dictionaries)
Definitions of retardation on the Web:
* deceleration: a decrease in rate of change; "the deceleration of the arms race"
* the extent to which something is delayed or held back
* retardant: any agent that retards or delays or hinders; "flame-retardant"
* lack of normal development of intellectual capacities
* slowdown: the act of slowing down or falling behind
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
* A nonchord tone, nonharmonic tone, or non-harmony note is a note in a piece of music which is not a part of the implied harmony that is described by the other notes sounding at the time. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retardation_(music)
* The act of retarding or delaying; hindrance; The extent to which anything is retarded; the result of any retarding or delay; mental, social, or physical slowness; That which retards; an obstacle; an obstruction
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/retardation
* mentally retarded: people collectively who are mentally retarded; "he started a school for the retarded"
* retarded - relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development; "providing a secure and sometimes happy life for the retarded"
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
* retarded - Delayed in development; Of a person, having mental retardation; By extension, of a person or thing, stupid; senseless; irrational; Under the influence of alcohol
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/retarded
* The delay in propagation of a radio wave near the critical frequency caused by the slowing down of the wave by the ionosphere.
www.sciencemaster.com/physical/item/solar_glossary.php
* Retardation is when someone's mind works in a different way than the normal human brain. Those with retardation process things differently, especially at a slower rate than the average human.
library.thinkquest.org/07aug/01473/Glossary.htm
* Slowness in development.
www.sbaaz.org/resources_glossary.php
* The amount of time by which corresponding tidal phases grow later day by day (about 50 minutes).
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/swces/produ ... ds/n_r.htm
* (See "Reevaluation.")
www.summerjoy.com/Glossary.html
Definitions of mental retardation on the Web:
* retardation: lack of normal development of intellectual capacities
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
* Mental retardation (MR) is a generalized disorder, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors with onset before the age of 18. It has historically been defined as an Intelligence Quotient score under 70. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_retardation
* A condition in which a person has an IQ that is below average and that affects an individual's learning, behavior, and development. This condition is present from birth.
science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih5/mental/other/glossary.htm
* abnormal brain function resulting in an IQ score of less than 70 (100 is average).
www.cbdmp.org/glossary.htm
* Delay in cognitive development including intellectual and adaptive skills. Usually defined as an IQ under 70.
access.autistics.org/resources/glossary/main.html
* (as defined by IDEA) means significantly sub average general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently [at the same time] with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period, that adversely affects a child's educational performance.
www.oklahomaparentscenter.org/Dictionary.html
* A condition of arrested or incomplete development of mind of a person which is specially characterized by sub-normality of intelligence.
7thsurvey.ncert.nic.in/glossary.htm
* Intellectual functioning defined in statistical terms as at least two standard deviations below the mean. Microcephaly - A small head, defined in statistical terms as more than two standard deviations below the average size.
www.child-dev.com/page.cfm
* Below average intelligence.
www.pickonline.org/resource/3/
* (Intellectual Disability) is characterized both by a significant below-average score on a test of mental ability or intelligence and by limitations in three or more areas of adaptive living skills, including but not limited to communication, self-care, social skills, home living, functional ...
www.redwoodcoastrc.org/services/definitions
* The lack of intellectual functioning present in the normal individual. The preferred term is "developmental disability."
www.snowdenmentalhealth.com/glossary.mgi
* Mental retardation means unusually slow or impaired learning ability, plus impairment in adaptive functioning (life skills, social skills), and beginning before the age of 18, usually evident long before.
www.dss.mo.gov/cd/info/cwmanual/section7/glossary/m.htm
* An individual is considered to have mental retardation based on the following three criteria: intellectual functioning level (IQ) is below 70-75; significant limitations exist in two or more adaptive skill areas; and the condition is present from childhood (defined as age 18 or less).
www.ourspecialkids.org/definitions2.html
* Subnormal intellectual functioning associated with impairment in adaptive behaviour and identified at an early age.
www.wiley.com/legacy/products/worldwide ... ary_m.html
* Mental deficiency resulting form poor
www.craigmentalhealth.org/news-and-othe ... /glossary/