How would you rewrite that part of the sentence that used the "R" word? It seems like "idiot" and "stupid" (edit: "moron") are also terms with historical baggage, and likely fall into the same category of being a slur. Or is it just because the "R" word is still in use by the medical field? I suppose "dumbass" is the first word that comes to mind without historical (or current?) baggage, and I'm personally fine to use that term to replace all the others above. But the links you provided don't really give guidance on how to express the above in a "safe" alternative way (note the original was an internal thought); I guess I'm here proposing that everyone just use "dumbass" (shout out to "Red").

Edit: I guess "dumb" also has its problems; perhaps even "fool"?

Wait, I can't tell.

Did OP write removed to mean the r word or did he type it but did it automatically get censored (if the latter, I didn't know Lemmy could do that). Or is removed innuendo for the r word? Or are you actually offended by the literal usage of "removed?" I'm so confused.

My dear friend, a lovely, kind and caring father, has a daughter born with some challenges. She's profoundly autistic, as I recall. Her path and potential are not the same as ours.

My friend talks with his doc often, as required, as in his area the care for his daughter is strong and consistent.

The doctor said, and says, that my friend's wonderful little girl is removed in her intellectual development. That's the word he uses. That's the word my dear friend uses when he talks about his universe when she is sitting in his lap. There's no malice there, and he says it as matter-of-factly as one would say "she has brown hair".

My dear friend, who is a great guy in every respect - I'm a little jealous - heard this word from his doctor, and uses this word when relevant am And referring to his little girl whom he obviously loves with all his heart.

I'm not a great guy. I'm not a doctor. I'm not a social justice warrior. I am not going to invite wrath by volunteering such a word, as English is a language steered by vapid ticktock fame-whores and that word has been co-opted. It's so fetch to reduce clarity in speech, so like, share and subscribe. But I'm not in a position or need to 'correct' what a doctor told a kind and caring person is the correct word to describe his beautiful child.

You be you.