Operation LAMB
Program Director, Rick Vaccarella vactech@earthlink.net
"L
east Among My Brethren"Helping People With Mental Retardation
As you can see, our council did great last year on our Operation Lamb!! Even with the hard times that the chairman had in obtaining permission from stores to solicit funds, we were still able to surpass our goal!!! Great job to all that helped!!!!
Great Job, Rick and the Vaccarella Family! THANKS for all you have done for LAMB!
Why we help "Mentally Retarded Children"
There are some people, many of whom are professionals, who rebel at using the phrase "Mentally Retarded Children". They advocate using the phrase "people with mental retardation" instead. This, to me, is splitting hairs, and clouding the subject.
The leading cause of mental retardation is "Down Syndrome" and the leading cause for hereditary mental retardation is "Fragile X Syndrome". Abnormal chromosomes cause both of these conditions. They will not change, they are part of the person, and they are in the DNA. I have two mentally retarded sons - both suffer from Fragile X syndrome. They are not "with" anything. Unfortunately, they are "mentally retarded".
Other critics say, "Why can't you say you're helping "Developmentally Disabled" people or "helping the handicapped" and please don't use the word "children". Many people seek to use any words except "mental retardation". These are strong and tough words, and to some, ugly words. Mental retardation is devastating to the individual, his family and to the community. It deserves a name that can relate the concept of what it really is. When we're out with Tootsie Rolls we don't have the time to explain the meaning of "developmental disability" or "intellectually challenged" or individuals with "chromosome disorders".
Mental retardation is a horrendous disease and when we use nice sounding words to describe it we tend to trivialize the affliction. We certainly do not help those who so badly need our help.
To some, the word "Children" is out of line. What about adults? We use "children" in a very broad sense. Childhood is a state of dependency and not necessarily attached to any age group. We will always be children to our parents. We are all children of God. Remember, a very dependent child can be in the body of a 50-year-old man.
I will conclude by saying that the words we use to describe mental retardation in no way degrade any individual - it is the disease that does this. I would suggest that each Knight use words and phrases that he is comfortable with. But please don't use high sounding words - don't make mental retardation sound nice. I can tell you, it's not nice.
Fraternally yours in Christ,
William W. "Bill" Scott, PSD
"Father Tootsie"; Founder of the NC Operation LAMB Program