AMESBURY — For Rep. Michael Costello, one of the most important parts of the budget sent to the governor last week has nothing to do with money.
For the past four years, Costello has been advocating for what would appear to be a simple name change. But it's not simple at all for those who are labeled by the word "retarded."
Initially approached by some developmentally disabled adults about getting the Department of Mental Retardation to become the Department of Developmental Services, Costello's effort to do just that appears to finally be labeled a success.
Last week, the Legislature passed a provision in the budget that will finally make that change, once agreed to by the governor. Costello is confident that will happen.
"I'm just happy," Costello said in an interview yesterday. "It really is about men and women and kids not being labeled. They made that very clear. This is about what they feel."
Costello said he was first approached shortly after taking office by Newburyport's Buddy Bostick, a veteran Department of Mental Retardation employee and standout distance runner, who invited him to a self-advocacy group for people with developmental disabilities in Danvers.
They told him how they wanted to see the name changed and noted how Massachusetts is one of the last remaining states to still use the DMR title for that agency. They also told him about the stigma associated with the term "mental retardation."
"I heard some poignant stories that evening," Costello said.
Costello has filed legislation to change the name of DMR during each of the last three legislative sessions. Concerns surfaced over what the name change will mean. Some asked if it might then widen the scope of disabilities the agency would focus on and the population it serves, and how that might change funding.
Included in the provision is language that states the agency will continue to serve the developmentally disabled who meet the current requirements, Costello said. Joined by other legislators and Bostick, who has pushed for the name change for a long time, Costello has spent the last several years working to convince his colleagues on Beacon Hill.
"The major reason why the name needs to change is because how you label people greatly affects how you look at them," Bostick said two years ago. "We're looking for acceptance of people with developmental disabilities. People should be seen in light of their potential, not their disabilities."
To persuade lawmakers to make the change, they have lobbied the governor and the Legislature through meetings, buttons and a video clip that was made to help educate about the name change that was sent out throughout the Statehouse.
"I hope the governor will sign it," Costello said. Gov. Deval Patrick has expressed his support, Costello said.
No other state agency uses labels, Costello said.
"We don't call it the Department of Convicted Criminals, we call it the Department of Correction," he pointed out.
Once the governor signs the bill, everything that carries the agency's name will be changed — from letterhead to signs.
"That's important," Costello said.
One person who is served by the DMR told him how he hates going to his mailbox each month and getting a letter from the Department of Mental Retardation.
"'I see 'mentally retarded' all the time and that doesn't make me feel good,' he said," Costello noted.
The costs to change over will be minimal, Costello said, and likely done incrementally. When the state changed the name of the Department of Environmental Management to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, it was a much bigger operation that included lettering on uniforms and trucks and signs in state parks, Costello said.
In a press release sent out by Costello's office, supporters of the name change praised the move, calling it "a wonderful day."
"Self-advocates are overjoyed that the House and Senate has voted to change the name of DMR to the Department of Developmental Services, a battle we have worked hard for many years," said John Anton, spokesman for Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong, in a prepared statement. "Thanks to Representative Costello for helping us from the beginning, and to all our friends who fought with us. This is about treating us with respect and dignity as citizens of Massachusetts. We look forward to Governor Patrick signing off on the change and working on the other important issues affecting our lives."
