The words “retardation” or “feeble-minded” will be replaced by “intellectual disability” or “developmental disability” in all state laws and regulations, under a bill Gov. Chris Christie signed into law this afternoon. Dozens of people with disabilities and advocacy group leaders gathered at the Statehouse in Trenton to witness the bill signing and reflect on their five-year campaign to rid the “R-word” from the state law books.

Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez praised the activists for the hard work, which included holding a rally at Rutgers University earlier this year. “This is a message about advocacy,” Velez said. “Advocacy works.”

Christie said he regretted people had to wait so long to get the bill passed, and said he was proud to have signed the law. “This is making sure each citizen in our state is treated with the respect they deserve…It’s their government, too,” he said. Read more in the Star Ledger.