NMS is working with Special Olympics to make Tuesday, March 31st a National Day of Awareness, where we ask ourselves and our peers to gain a greater understanding of the implications of our actions.
We want Tuesday, March 31st to be a day where people take a moment to think about the weight and impact of our words.
We want Tuesday, March 31st to be about respect and acceptance.
On Tuesday, March 31st, we want to help end the use of the R-word – “retard” – forever. And we’re using social media to get there.
To quote the Special Olympics, “Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities.” Yet many of us, everywhere, still use the word “retard” or “retarded” in our everyday language. Search Twitter and see for yourself. People use the R-word, day in and day out, without taking the time to think about the influence of their words. People still use the R-word, even though we all unquestionably have friends, coworkers, and family members who are close to people with intellectual disabilities.
On Tuesday, March 31st, we want people to pledge to stop.
We want to end the use of the R-word. We want to hammer the point home that using the R-word is no different from using any other slur, maliciously targeting a minority, equivalent to belittling someone for their race, religion, or sexuality. We want to create a world where everyone feels welcome. And we want you to spread the word, the best way we know how.
That means Facebook:
- Attend the End the R-Word Day event.
- Join the Special Olympics Fan Page, where you can engage with the rest of the Special Olympics community and get frequent updates on the progress of our efforts to “spread the word” to end the R-word.
- Join the Causes page, where you can donate to Special Olympics and recruit other people to the cause.
That means Twitter:
- Tweet to spread the word to end the R-word, and use the #rword hashtag to show your support.
- Follow our efforts at @EndTheWord, where you can stay posted on the progress of our efforts to end the R-word.
- Follow the Special Olympics Fan Community at @FanCommunity, a handle named after the legion of supporters devoted to increasing awareness, acceptance, and respect of those with intellectual disabilities.
Visit the Special Olympics and the End the R-word sites to learn more. On the End the R-word page, already over 16,000 people have pledged to stop using the R-word. The pledges are linked to an RSS feed and are displayed in real time, so you can actually see the impact the R-word campaign is having on thousands of people around the world.
As I’m writing this, Sarah from Jarrettsville, Maryland writes, “I one-hundred percent agree with the elimination of the r-word, people do not understand the hurt of this word and how it effects people in many ways. The saying ‘words can never hurt me’ is false because this word hurts.” Kim from Champaign, Illinois writes, “It amazes me that people use this word so freely - not knowing, or simply not caring how it affects others. I pledge & support the total elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word, and promote the acceptance & inclusion of people with disabilities.”
These pledges are constantly coming in from people willing to spread the word. You can reach the pledge form here, to make your own personal pledge to support elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech. I did:
John C. McGinley is on board. So is Bill O’Reilly. We have a unique opportunity; we know the value of a social media movement, and we know the difference that one can make. Please show your support for Special Olympics, and their efforts to end the use of the R-word.