This article is from the Patriot-News printed December 18, 2007.  I guess the est way to describe this is that there are two sides of the story and in my opinion both are right.  The article describes a request for a Creek that runs through Harrisburgh State Hospital to be renamd since it’s current name is Asylum Run which Disability rights actavists say is demeeing and conjurs up stigmas and stereotypes.  On the other side of the story, you have the local government and such that say it would be costly to change the name on maps, and other information.  The article describes the whole issue much better then what I ever could, but that should give you an idea of what the dispute is.

The original article can be found at …
http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1197949263118670.xml&coll=1

Battle lost against creek’s ‘offensive’ name

Advocates vow to keep targeting Asylum Run

Tuesday, December 18, 2007BY CARRIE CASSIDY

Of The Patriot-News

Efforts to change the name of a creek that offends some people have failed, but advocates say they’ll keep fighting.

Asylum Run, the creek that flows from Lower Paxton Twp. through the Harrisburg State Hospital grounds in Susquehanna Twp. before emptying into Paxton Creek, will not be changed to Recovery Run.

Last week, the Susquehanna Twp. commissioners rejected a request, and the Lower Paxton Twp. supervisors did the same this year. <!– if (parseFloat(navigator.appVersion) == 0) { document.write(”); } –>

Both were asked by the United States Board of Geographic Names to make a decision after the federal agency received the request filed last year by the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania and a dozen more organizations like it.

Lower Paxton and Susquehanna had the final say because the townships would bear the responsibility of changing signs and maps and paying for other expenses that would be incurred.

George Wolfe, Lower Paxton’s manager, said the supervisors “didn’t really think [the request] merited further consideration.”

Susquehanna Twp. Commissioner Frank Lynch said changing names rooted in history for politically correct reasons often have unintended consequences.

Besides, Lynch said he doesn’t believe the name conjures the terrible connotations as stated by the Disability Rights Network.

“I’ve done volunteer PR work for a mental disability organization that promotes independence for those who live with mental disadvantages,” he said. “I know all the corners of this dispute.”

Linda Anthony and Heidi Notario-Smull with the Disability Rights Network said they don’t think the decision-makers understood the impact the word “asylum” has on people who have a mental illness.

“Asylums were just horrible places. They were torture chambers for people who have mental disabilities,” Anthony said. “It’s a very, very offensive word. For us, it’s the same thing as an African-American person being called the N-word.”

Notario-Smull said the fight to change Asylum Run’s name is long from over. They are trying to come up with a different approach, which will probably involve educating the public and more advocacy, she said.

“I think [the townships' decisions] showed a lack of understanding,” Notario-Smull said. “We feel very strongly that people with mental illness deserve respect. These decisions were very disrespectful. … We’re not giving up. We think it’s worth the fight.”

CARRIE CASSIDY: 255-8244 or ccassidy@patriot-news.com