March Third is Spread the Word to End the Word Day

posted on Mar 03 by Stacy in the Advocacy, Disability Discrimination, Disability News category

You will hear the buzz in offices, schools, cafeterias and on the street……your street, your town….across the United States and around the world.  Spread the Word to End the Word was created by youth, both with and without disabilities, who took part in the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Their goal was a call to action, a pledge to stop use of the word “retard”, encourage a positive attitude change, and a commitment to making the world a more accepting place where everyone is respected and valued.  Actor John McGinley was moved to join these youth. “Most people don’t think of this word as the language of hate, but that’s exactly what it feels like to millions of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and friends,” said McGinley. “I choose to believe that most of us are fundamentally good and that we’re just not aware that the word is offensive, and that it hurts.”

Today, March 3 was set aside for the second annual day of awareness to Spread the Word to End the Word.  People are encouraged to rally and pledge their support.

What you can do:

*Join the Project UNIFY movement in schools around the U.S.

*Donate money to keep Special Olympics programs going.

*Get in the game by joining Special Olympics Unified Sports®, where people with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together on the same team.

*Know someone with an intellectual disability? Refer them to a Special Olympics program nearby.

*Be a leader and get your university involved with SO College

*Contribute five minutes to take the pledge to stop using “retard” as an insult.

To learn more go to: Special Olympics: Spread the Word to End the Word