Spread the Word to End the “R” Word

UW-Milwaukee students hosted Spread the Word to End the Word Day at the Union on March 2. Their mission is to raise awareness of the derogatory use of the “R” word, retard or retarded. Not only does it have a negative effect on individuals with intellectual disabilities, they say, but also their families and friends.

“It’s an event that we hold here on campus on the first week of March every year,” said Patrick Adams, UWM student and advocate. “It’s part of Best Buddies and Sociocultural Programming where we try to influence both community members and students to stop using the “R” word. The “R” word is known as retarded.”

The slogan, “Spread the Word to End the Word,” originated with Special Olympics and Best Buddies. Best Buddies UWM Chapter, a student organization, combines individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities into the community and campus environment.  College students are paired up with IDD individuals to provide opportunities to be more involved on campus and around the greater community. Best Buddies ensures that IDD individuals will feel more included in society by allowing one-on-one friendships.

Participants of the event gained an understanding of why the use of the R-word is inappropriate and unacceptable. Materials such as stickers, T-shirts, and pins were provided for participants explaining why Spread the Word to End the Word Day exists. They also had the opportunity to pledge online and take a picture with an “I PLEDGED” sticker. Pictures were later posted online to further spread the word. T-shirts were available to purchase for $10.

As the event lasted only three hours, over 150 students stopped by before and after their classes to take action and learn more about the special day. Students are encouraged to use their social media to further spread the word, share their story, approach others who use the derogatory word, and be a leader.

As social media is a powerful tool to communicate outside their reach, students tweeted “I pledge #Respect through my words and actions. Will you? Pledge now to create communities of inclusion for people with IDD http://r-word.org.” This allowed people to know that they have pledged and that they are honored to support Spread the Word to End the Word Day.

Patrick Adam said for every person finding success in bringing change, there is another group of people wondering how to do it themselves.

UWM sophomore and participant, Kathya Tapia, asked a group of participants if people use the R-word as a compliment or if they have ever found themselves using the R-word to praise their peers after an achievement.

“It’s not a word to use,” said Tapia. “They are human. We are human. We’re all equal, that’s it.”

She said she often wonders if people will ever respect IDD individuals or if they really associate that word with them. Participants were told to choose other words whenever they felt tempted to use the R-word. Tapia believes if you do not have anything nice to say, do not say anything at all.

Although this event is known to be a youth driven campaign, everyday family members and advocates are initiating change in school and communities.

We are free to speak our minds. Freedom of speech is to all Americans, as oxygen is to the human condition. However, when we use words we are free to speak and it targets a specific group of people in a harmful way, it can strike a nerve.

Anyone interested in pledging can visit the website here.