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A Message From Deputy Commissioner Stephen H. Norris

I am pleased to announce that Governor Phil Bredesen and the Legislature have taken a major step in supporting people with disabilities. Changing the terminology related to the people we serve is important to changing attitudes and perceptions about people with intellectual disabilities, and they deserve to be treated with respect, just like anyone else.

House bill 1275/Senate bill 1121 passed during the recently-adjourned 2009 legislative session. Senators Ken Yager and Doug Overbey along with Representative Dennis Ferguson co-sponsored the bill which eliminates the word "retardation" from the division's name. Governor Bredesen signed the bill into law on June 23, 2009.

The division polled members of the agency's Advisory Council, representatives from the provider community and various advocacy organizations in making a determination about the change. The overwhelming support of the people most directly affected by the terminology convinced me that the legislation enabling this change was the right thing to do.

The bill was introduced in support of an effort led largely by the national Special Olympics organization to "End the R-word." Officials with the agency, which sponsors sporting competitions and other activities for those with intellectual disabilities, say the word has become too tied with negative stereotypes after years of use as a derogative term.

The Division is currently taking steps to change the agency's name to the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD).

Please know that it will take time to replace letterhead, envelopes, documents, signage, and other inventory that contain the former name. The name change will be reflected on the website by Monday, July 20, 2009. The IT (Information Technology) section needs some time to update all the references to DMRS. If you have web links to the DMRS website please be advised that you will need to update the URL "web address" and those links to www.tn.gov/didd/ once IT has made all the necessary changes.

Due to cost factors and the state's current budget situation, supplies bearing the former name will be exhausted before new items are ordered to reflect the name change. Every effort will be made to replace those items as quickly as possible, in consideration of the positive outcome for consumers and the public.

Stephen H. Norris, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities