Senator Eldridge Praises Governor Healey for Signing “R-Word” Bill, Recognizes Former Aide Melissa Reilly’s Persistent Advocacy
Bill, championed for more than a decade, removes outdated terminology from the Massachusetts General Laws
Boston – On Friday, June 12th, Governor Maura Healey signed An Act Dignifying Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (The “R word” bill), legislation that modernizes the Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) to remove offensive and outdated language in reference to persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The law replaces archaic phrasing, specifically references to “handicap”/”handicapped and still-existent expressions of the “R word,” in addition to other obsolete phrases found in 362 distinct sections of the MGL. In place of such terms, the law inserts terminology that demonstrates the Commonwealth’s resolve to ensure all its residents are valued and treated with dignity. For example, it removes terms like “mentally retarded” in favor of “person with an intellectual or developmental disability.”
Last week, State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) lauded Governor Healey’s efforts: “I am so grateful to Governor Healey for signing this important bill into law. By eliminating stigmatizing language in the Massachusetts General Laws, we are affirming the dignity of people with disabilities and expanding opportunities for fuller, happier lives. Thank you to the disability community and advocates for their years of work, and to Senator Pat Jehlen, Senator Robyn Kennedy and Representatives Sean Garballey, Michael Finn and Jay Livingstone for championing this legislation for over a decade.”
Senator Eldridge went on applaud the longtime activism of his former Office Aide, disability-rights champion Melissa Reilly, who proved instrumental in the passage of S.137, the Senate version of the “R Word” bill: “For more than a decade, my former Office Assistant Melissa Reilly poured her heart into passing the archaic language bill because she understood better than anyone the power words have to either harm or uplift. Through countless meetings with legislators, testimony before committees, and sharing her own story to the press, Melissa showed that dignity and inclusion are not just abstract values but values that shape people's everyday lives.” A Boxborough native, Melissa is a founding member of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and a Special Olympics Massachusetts athlete since age eight. A model of persistence, she pursued the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities as a member of Team Eldridge for twelve years. In 2025, Melissa moved with her parents to Connecticut, but remains committed to advocating for those with disabilities.
Last July, Melissa returned to the State House, joining Senator Eldridge to voice her enthusiasm for the Senate’s unanimous passage of the legislation she had long championed. Reflecting on such a profound moment, Reilly stated, “First of all, I feel overwhelmed and very overjoyed, seeing that the bill has officially been passed through the Senate…I’m glad that the Senators are very supportive of this bill.” She further considered the perspectives of those with whom she is close: “Many of my friends with disabilities [were excited] to hear and see that the academic language bill would be officially almost done.”
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