Awareness Wednesday - Mental Retardation

 March is among other awareness is Mental Retardation month. I have always had so much compassion for a person who is mentally challenged in any way. All through school I wouldn't allow them to be bullied or picked on. I am proud to say that my daughter has the same compassion and stands up for those that can't or won't stand up for themselves. There are 2 children with downs syndrome in her school, those 2 children have to be escorted through the halls because of a few students who are horribly mean children. My daughter and her friends allow these 2 beautiful souls to sit with them during lunch. My daughter came home so upset one day because some kids were being mean calling them "retards" among other horrible names. My daughter and her friend both freshman in high school chose to stand up and say something to these kids. A teacher yelled at them for making too much noise. When they explained to the teacher what had happened and why they made all the "noise" she told them they had to mind their business and keep it down or they'd be sent to the office. I myself dare a teacher to send my daughter to the office, or the office do something to her for her standing up for those who can't stand up for themselves.



I believe education is the key to teaching people to accept others, and that is why I do Awareness Wednesday. To educate people and maybe provide some answers. So here is a little information I found on The Arc of Atlantic City.

According to the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR), 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.) 

Mental retardation can be caused by any condition which impairs development of the brain before birth, during birth, or in the childhood years. Several hundred causes have been discovered, but in about one-third of the people affected, the cause remains unknown. The three major known causes of mental retardation are the genetic conditions of Down syndrome and fragile X, and fetal alcohol syndrome, the result of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

The Arc of Atlantic County improves the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community. Through direct services, advocacy, education and prevention activities, we work in partnership with individuals and their families to make choices possible about how and where they live, learn, play and work.