This Word Removed From Burr Ridge Village Code

BURR RIDGE, IL – The Burr Ridge Village Board this week voted to remove the word "handicapped" from the village code.

This was at the request of Richard Morton, a member of the Burr Ridge Plan Commission who uses a wheelchair.

In its revisions, the village changed "handicapped parking" to "accessible parking." References to "handicapped person" were replaced with "person with a disability."

In an email to Patch, Morton hailed the change to "more appropriate and respectful language."

"This is a positive step forward," he said.

Numerous groups advise against using the word "handicapped" to refer to disabilities.

"The word 'Handicapped' is now referred to by many within the Disability community as the 'H' word, as it brings to mind something that is being held back," the Rocky Mountain ADA Center website says.