March 31: SPREAD THE WORD to END the R-Word

[Guest guest]

SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD

It is time we SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD and this March 31 is a national day of

awareness for America to stop and think about their use of the R-word. That R-word is not “recession,”

but something more hurtful and painful – “retard.” Most people don’t think of this word as hate speech, but

that’s exactly what it feels like to millions of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and friends.

This word is just as cruel and offensive as any other slur. Visit www.r-word.org to make your pledge

today.

• Young people around the country are taking a stand and raising awareness of the dehumanizing

and hurtful effects of the words “retard” or “retarded” and are helping encourage Americans to

think before they speak.

• On March 31, visit www.r-word.org and make your pledge to not use the R-word. Our goal is to

get 100,000 pledges.

• We ask that you help us “Change the conversation” to help eliminate the demeaning use of the Rword

from today’s popular youth vernacular and replace it with “respect.” We are asking for your

help in creating a more accepting world for people with intellectual disabilities and all those

people that may appear different, but have unique gifts and talents to share with the world.

• We’re asking every person - young and old - to help eliminate the demeaning use of the R-word

(retard) –a common taunt used to make fun of others. Often unwittingly, the word is used to

denote behavior that is clumsy, hapless, and even hopeless. But whether intentional or not, the

word conjures up a painful stereotype of people with intellectual disabilities. It hurts. Even if you

don’t mean it that way.

• People with intellectual disabilities are capable and enjoy sharing life experiences – listening to

music, playing video games, watching the latest movies, and yes, having fun – as well as working

together toward athletic excellence as they do at Special Olympics. They can attend school, work,

drive cars, get married, participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to society in many

ways.

• Special Olympics’ recently completed Multi-National Public Opinion Study of Attitudes toward

People with Intellectual Disabilities, conducted by Gallup, but unfortunately the study reveals that

throughout the world, a large percentage of people still believe that people with intellectual

disabilities should be segregated in schools and in the workplace. This is intolerable. We need

massive attitude change now to attack and reverse the stigma that is destructive to the lives of

people with intellectual disabilities and a barrier to growth.

• As a democracy our country values equality and fairness for all citizens. If we reduce this right byusing inappropriate words toward any population, it negatively impacts all of us.

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