Ritardati

Ritardati is an Italian term historically used to refer to people with intellectual disabilities. The word derives from ritardare, meaning to delay or slow, and was commonly used in medical, educational, and social contexts to label individuals with cognitive impairment.

In the 19th and much of the 20th century, phrases such as ritardo mentale or ritardati mentali were standard in clinical literature and in references to services for people with cognitive disabilities, including schools and welfare programs. The term accumulated a strong stigmatizing connotation over time, becoming associated with negative stereotypes and exclusion.

Today, ritardati is widely regarded as outdated and offensive in respectful discourse. Modern terminology favors person-centered language, such as persone con disabilità intellettiva (people with intellectual disabilities) or disabilità intellettiva. International classifications increasingly use terms like intellectual disability or intellectual developmental disorder, aligning with a shift toward dignity and inclusion. In Italy as in many other countries, disability policy emphasizes rights, inclusion in education and employment, and community integration, moving away from labeling practices rooted in past medical models.

The term survives primarily in historical documents and discussions of the evolution of disability language and rights. It serves as a reminder of the changes in social attitudes and the ongoing effort to use respectful, accurate terminology when discussing cognitive disability.