I agree 100%. My point is there is no need to use the word with a mostly negative connotation when so many other words are available.
If someone's son had autism, would you ask the parents if their child is retarded? You do not mean it in a negative way but most likely that is how it will be received.
ETA: from 1981
I wouldn't either ask if their son was developmentally challenged. If i was working in a clinic or on anything technical related to taking the condition into account i would use a word that brings the point across best. In this situation the allowance of family members "helping "
retarded people to vote not "special " or "challenged ' people is the point i was trying to bring out. Obviously if i was talking to the person himself or you knew who i was talking about ,i would try to find a different way to make the point and if impossible i just wouldnt say anything.
My point is that all of the PC garbage just makes people beat around the bush instead of saying things as they are