Mental Retardation: Social Construction or Clinical Reality?

ABSTRACT In this paper issues relating to the social construction of mental retardation are raised. The writings of a group of six people, diagnosed as moderately mentally retarded, are used to highlight several areas of debate. It is argued that labelling people as mentally retarded, particularly those deemed mildly or moderately retarded, is not necessarily of benefit to those individuals. Furthermore, this process establishes and perpetuates the notion that people so-called are incapable of acting in their own best interests. The work of the six people used in this paper challenges these notions, and suggests that many people who are labelled as mentally retarded are aware of their needs and are able to express these coherently.