Non-negative 1974 connotation of the word retarded

[Charles C Doyle]

I seem to recall a time when "retarded" was the polite term, having replaced "idiot," " moron," etc.  Then in the 1970s "retarded" gave way to "L.D." and other designations--all of them quickly stigmatized, until now we're left with the highly nonspecific "special."

Charlie

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From: American Dialect Society [ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] on behalf of W Brewer [brewerwa at GMAIL.COM]
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2012 12:13 PM-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Am cataloguing a stamp collection these days and ran across a USA ten-cent
stamp issued in 1974 captioned Retarded Children Can be Helped, Scott
catalogue no 1549. Here is a reference from the USPS site:   (quote) The
10-cent Retarded Children Can be Helped commemorative stamp was first
placed on sale at Arlington, Texas, on October 12, 1974. This issue called
attention to a national problem found in discrimination against children
with mental disabilities. The stamp was designed by Paul Calle and was
issued in sheets of fifty, with an initial printing of 140 million.
Reference: Postal Bulletin (August 29, 1974). (end quote)
(http://arago.si.edu/flash/?s1=5|sq=Scott
1549|sf=1)

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