SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The word “handicapped” might be wiped out of the state’s laws. State Representative Denise Provost from Somerville wants the phrase “persons with disabilities” to replace the word “handicapped” in Massachusetts laws.
Provots told the Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities that “handicapped” is an offensive word.
Springfield residents agree the state should move to more formal language that could be less offensive. “Disabled does kind of sound a little more professional, more than handicapped when it comes to paperwork and stuff. So that probably would help out a little bit more for the disabled people,” said Carlos Rosado of Springfield.
In 2010, former governor Deval Patrick signed into law a bill to replace the words “mental retardation” with “intellectual disabilities or disability.”
