Towards A More Acceptable Terminology in Mental Retardation

ORE than a year has elapsed since the publication of the long awaited and sorely needed terminology and classification manual, made possible through the joint sponsorship of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the American Association on Mental Deficiency (Heber, 1959). Despite the considerable significance this manual will have in aiding the establishment of a commonly understood and accepted nomenclature and coding system among those in the medical profession and particularly for institutions, its sections on definition and behavioral classification (Ibid pp 3-4, 56-57) may inspire greater modifi­ cation in philosophy and practice within the fields of education, psychology, and habilitation.