Our Words
Advocacy and creative passion are key to Spread the Word and we are always looking for more ways to hear and amplify the voice of every member of our community. We want to hear your stories, your concerns and your opinions. And we want others to hear them as well. Send us your story of inclusion. Check out stories from our community below!”
I Have Stopped
The r-word is very disrespectful and degrading. Please spread the word to end this awful term and promote acceptance among individuals.
A Father Works to End the Word
A father speaks with City Council members in an effort to Spread the Word to End the Word.
Self-Advocates Spread the Word to End the Word
Self-Advocates from the Centre County Down Syndrome Society (CCDSS) created this video in support of the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign. Learn more about the CCDSS at www.centrecountydownsyndrome.org
Centre County Down Syndrome Society Spreads the Word
'Spread the Word to End the Word' created by the Centre County Down Syndrome Society
The Golisano Foundation Challenges Rochester to Spread the Word
The Golisano Foundation is challenging the Rochester, NY community to Spread the Word to End the Word to show its love and create a more accepting world for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have unique gifts and talents to share with the world.
R-Word Video by SOCO YAC Members
Spread the Word to End the Word video created by Special Olympics Colorado Youth Activation Committee Members to create awareness about the r-word.
Sarah Marince Helps Spread the Word
Check out this great video of singer/songwriter Sarah Marince and her brother Michael talking about the hurtful effects of the word "retard(ed)" and why you should take the pledge to stop saying the R-word and promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.
Spread the Word to End the Word at Roosevelt University
This mini-documentary was produced for the fall 2010 Essential Multimedia Skills Course final project and also to help in raising awareness of the "r-word" issue that is spreading across the country and world. This video was filmed on location at Roosevelt University (RU) in Chicago, IL by Daniel Smrokowski.
Special Olympics Virginia Spreads the Word
Learn more about the damaging impact of the r-word by watching this video featuring Special Olympics Virginia advocates and three powerful skits created by drama students at Massaponax High School in Spotsylvania County.
Bill O'Reilly Responds to Youth Summit
When guest Dick Morris used the R-word on the O'Reilly Factor, 120 youth with and without intellectual disabilities activated from their youth summit taking place at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games to create this video and craft a letter that they sent to Bill O'Reilly. The second half of the video show's O'Reilly's response.
Jennifer Aniston uses the R-word
On the Aug. 19, 2010, episode of "Live with Regis and Kelly" actress Jennifer Aniston uses the word 'retard' in an off the cuff self-deprecating remark. Unfortunately this pervasive use of the R-word is too common in our society today, and this is just another illustration of its vast pervasiveness. Whether intentional or not, the R-word hurts people with intellectual disabilities and those that love them by equating their humanity to images of haplessness, incompetence or buffoonery. Footage from "Live with Regis and Kelly" is used only for educational and awareness purposes.
End the R-Word State House Rally in South Carolina
Project Unify South Carolina hosted a End the R-Word State House Rally. This video features Sarah and Grant, two members of the Youth Council, speaking in front of 400 plus people at the rally.