For years, Special Olympics has been addressing the pejorative use of the words “retard” and “retarded” by raising the consciousness of society about the hurtful and damaging impact those words have on people with intellectual disabilities, their families and friends.
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Special Olympics International and Best Buddies International are partners in presenting Spread the Word to End the Word. Learn more at www.r-word.org
The latest in the battle against this 21st-century dirty word have all eyes on American influencers who have recently used the term in the media.
A Jan. 26 Wall Street Journal article quoted White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel calling certain healthcare opposition as “retarded.” Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver sent a letter to Emanuel, objecting to his use of the word and explaining why it is hurtful. Earlier this week, a delegation of advocates met with Emanuel to discuss the effect of the R-word on people with intellectual disabilities. The meeting prompted Emanuel to add his pledge at R-word.org.
Shortly after the meeting, radio personality Rush Limbaugh described the White House meeting with Emanuel as a “retard summit.” Tim Shriver sent a letter to Limbaugh as well.
Shriver, as he does with all people of influence, reached out with a letter to Limbaugh as well to engage him in being a leader against discrimination of people with intellectual disabilities. Shriver has not yet received a response from Limbaugh.
Heeding the advice and recommendations of Special Olympics athletes, Special Olympics began referring to ‘mental retardation’ as ‘intellectual disabilities’ in 2004. The athletes felt the term mental retardation perpetuated the playground taunts of ‘retard’ and ‘retarded’ and added social stigma to the everyday challenge they faced.
In 2008, Special Olympics, along with a coalition of intellectual disability organizations, raised the issue of the R-word when Dreamworks released the film “Tropic Thunder” which repeatedly used the R-word. A protest was held at the premiere in Los Angeles, CA and for once the R-word became a national discussion topic.
Young people joined the campaign against this term in March 2009 when they launch the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign which engaged students and people with intellectual disabilities to join together to take the pledge at www.r-word.org to not use the R-word.
Join the campaign today by taking the pledge, downloading activation materials or buying the gear.
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R-Word use:
92% of youth have heard someone use the R word.
36% report hearing it directed towards someone with an intellectual disability.
Only 20% of youth admitted that they never use the word themselves.
Youth’s reaction to its use:
When the r-word is not directed towards someone with intellectual disability,
When it is used and directed towards someone with intellectual disability,
Who uses the R Word: The following percentages show what fraction of youths report hearing the R word from:
Contact with someone with intellectual disability:
Only 38% of youth report having a schoolmate with intellectual disability, and only 15% report having a classmate with intellectual disability.
Youth with no contact with someone with intellectual disability are more likely to do nothing when a peer calls someone the R-word (42%) compared to youth with a family member with intellectual disability (23%).