Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing effort by the Special Olympics, Best Buddies and other supporters to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful efforts of the R-word and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word.
The campaign, created by youth, is intented to engage schools, organizations, and communities to rally and pledge their support at www.r-word.org and to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The official annual day of awareness is held the first Wednesday of every March.
Spread the Word to End the Word was founded by college students Soeren Palumbo (Notre Dame 2011) and Tim Shriver (Yale 2011) in 2009, and continues to be led by passionate young people, Special Olympics athletes and Best Buddies participants across the United States and in many other parts of the world.
Respectful and inclusive language is essentail to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilites. However, much of society, does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the R-word.
Language affects attitudes. Attitudes impact actions. Make your pledge to choose respectful people first language today at www.R-word.org.
"I pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities."
Tim Shriver was recently on The Colbert Report to talk about the Spread the Word to End the Word Campaign. Steven Colbert asked him if this request, society not using the r-word, was the same as policing language. Without even pausing, this was Tim Shriver's response:
"I didn't say you can't use the word. I don't want to be a cop, I want to be a teacher. You're allowed to be humiliating, degrading and hurtful. I'm allowed to petition you to at least recognize what you say and be aware of the option you have to stop."
Well put. Very well put.
Until Next Time!
Lots of Love,
1 comment:
Just wanted to add my support to your effort to raise awareness of this. I so hope this campaign makes a difference.
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