Spread The Word Inclusion Podcast Series

Help spread the word to end disrespectful language

I was beaming with pride one morning in spring 2002. This was the best day so far of my sixth grade year in junior high as I had just made the honor roll list for the first time. The honor roll list was posted in the front lobby of the school. I was standing behind some of my peers, none of whom was diagnosed with disabilities. All of a sudden something hit me like a brick: “Why is that retard on the list?” I heard a few of my peers say, not knowing who might be standing behind them.

When words hurt

I was beaming with excitement one afternoon in spring 2010, during one of my journalism classes at Roosevelt University. We were studying how to use new media and technology within our field, when a nearby classmate, who was not diagnosed with a disability, made a comment that hit me like a brick.

“Why is this technology so retarded,” the classmate said, without knowing who might be affected by this word.

Take a Stand, End the Word

I was beaming with pride one morning in spring 2002.

This was the best day so far of my sixth grade career at Westmont Junior High School, as I had just made the honor roll list for the first time. I was standing behind some of my peers, who were not diagnosed with disabilities, when all of a sudden something hit me like a brick: The honor roll list was posted in the front lobby of the school.

“Why is that retard on the list,” I heard a few peers say, not knowing who might be standing behind them.

Speaking Up Against the R-Word

The word “retard(ed),” or the r-word as I call it, is a word that is really hurtful for all of us with special needs and our families and friends.

Just like many of my fellow Special Olympics athletes, I don’t really like to drive. Yes, their are some that do drive (and I used to about 6 years ago), but many of us take public transportation.