Disability rights center accepts apology over ‘r’ word utterance

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090813/NEWS01/908130330/1002/NEWS

Jill Terreri
Staff writer

The Center for Disability Rights will accept Majority Leader Dan Quatro’s apology on behalf of the majority Republican caucus, made to reporters after Tuesday evening’s legislature meeting.

Director of Advocacy Chris Hilderbrant said the center reached out to Quatro on Wednesday and plans to speak with him about sensitivity training for legislators and to ensure that county documents include language that is not disrespectful to people with disabilities.

On Tuesday, a group of people with disabilities and their advocates packed the legislature chambers in response to the use of the word “retard” by a lawmaker during a legislature meeting July 14.

Twenty-six people addressed the chamber, many of whom have physical or developmental disabilities.

After the meeting, when they had left, Quatro spoke to reporters.

“I will apologize as majority leader,” he said.

Quatro has denied using the slur and said that he doesn’t think it’s important to find out who said it. He has also said the members of his caucus receive sensitivity training at work and that more training isn’t necessary.

The remark was not audible to others in the chamber but was picked up by a microphone and can be heard in a video recording of the meeting.