Spread the Word to End the R Word Day

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It seems as though we keep hearing about ending the "N" Word or ending the "G" Word...how about taking a stand and ending the "R" word!

The "R" word....No we dont mean Recession! Lets end the use of the hurtful word "retard(ed)"!

"Everyone matters, everyone is accepted and everyone has value"

Click on the badge above and be one of thousands(hopefully millions) to make a pledge to stop using the R-word!

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 by using inappropriate words toward any population, it negatively impacts all of us.

The Movement

Please share in this movement, and pledge to put an end to using this hurtful,

disrespectful word.

Our own story:

So many people think, your child can not
talk well, can not walk well..here comes that "R" word. In actuality...yes
when tested she is intellectually disabled...

but that is because she can not do
these tests like others...she is trapped in a body that will not allow it.
So the stares, and points are hard enough to deal with...

but when you have
someone at your own home say

"well at least my child wont be retarded like her"

...well that is one of the most hurtful things ever! I have tried to
get passed this being said...but how. When as a child we were hurt by
someone calling us this...we think oh kids say the cruelest things...

Well lets put an end to this...because this ignorance just leads to it going from cruel words of a child to ignorant adults saying these cruel things!

My child has just as much value in this world as any other child!

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