R-Word Campaign

Spread the Word to End the Word™ is an ongoing effort to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and to encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word. The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools, organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support and to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.
 

WHEN? The official Spread the Word to End the Word™ day is March 2, 2011, but people everywhere can help spread the word throughout their communities and schools by having pledge drives, youth rallies and online activation.
 

WHY? Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities. However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the word “retard(ed)."  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 and developmental disabilities, and it hurts, even if you don’t mean it that way.
 
 
Spread the Word to End the Word™ was created by youth with and without intellectual disabilities who participated in the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The motivation for the campaign was driven by a united passion to promote the positive contributions that people with intellectual disabilities make to communities around the world combined with a simple call to action - a pledge to stop using a word - that also symbolizes positive attitude change and a commitment to make the world a more accepting place for all people.
 
ACT NOW! Take the pledge and show your support in eliminating the demeaning use of the R-word
 
Also, check out how you can Spread The Word in your school.