resources

Youth-Led Campaign to End the "R-Word"

Source: Special Olympics

"Spread the Word to End the Word 3.31.09" is an "r-word" campaign, a youth-inspired, youth-led event. You can find out more about the campaign at the Special Olympics website.

This past February, the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games were held in in Boise / Sun Valley, Idaho uniting nearly 2,000 athletes from nearly 100 countries. As part of that event, 130 young people with and without intellectual disabilities gathered for a week-long activation summit.

On February 9, during the week of activities, Dick Morris used the word "retarded" in a demeaning way on the O'Reilly Factor. The students of the Youth Activation Summit acted swiftly and reached out to FOX and Bill O'Reilly to educate and engage them on this blunder. On February 12, Bill O’Reilly gave an on-air apology.

Young people have found their power and are leading an effort for Special Olympics called Spread the Word to End the Word. Students across the country are planning local events for 3.31.09 to end the use of the R-word and to garner more pledges of support.

Actor and National Down Syndrome Society Ambassador John C. McGinley attended the 2009 World Games and was so impressed with the actions of these young people that he has signed-on to help them further their goal.

We invite you to join us as we Spread the Word to End the Word this month. Help the youth spread the word by mobilizing your constituents to support their efforts. Graphics, tools and resources can be found at www.r-word.org. Your organization and constituents are welcome to use the materials to participate in this nationwide awareness effort to help us accomplish what we set out to do in August 2008 – change the conversation and raise the consciousness of society about the hurtful effects of the R-word.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kirsten Seckler at kseckler@specialolympics.org or 1-202-715-1147 or Barbara Kornblau at bkornblau@specialolympics.org