March 7th is "Spread the Word to End the Word" Day. It's a campaign through r-word.org and Special Olympics to pass along the idea that using the "r" word, a word used in a derogatory manner to describe a person as having a cognitive disability or difference. Once upon a time, this wasn't a"derogatory" word. It was used scientifically to describe the IQ levels of individuals with disabilities in both diagnosis and treatment. However, since then, it's been used to describe typical individuals or situations that are seen negatively, i.e. "He's r%*$&*, or That's r*$&@)" . Usually people don't say it realizing how offensive it is, but it's extremely offensive. And it has to stop.
Now. And with us.
It's a word that is never used in my house, and any of my friends who drop it when they are guests in my house are not surprised when I say, "that word isn't used here". I love my friends, and I know they didn't intentionally say that to put down individuals with cognitive disabilities and delays. They were trying to put down whatever subject they were talking about. But the problem lies in using any population (including race, ethnicity, gender, ability, etc.) as a "Slam". Particularly a population that is historically silenced and marginalized.
I will probably go onto my death bed proclaiming what I believe to be so true and often not recognized, "Rights for persons who disabled and their families, are civil rights." Advancement in these rights have come a long way since the 70s, and I'm so proud to know some individuals who were on the front-lines during these times who were forging the way for the rights of my own child today. But we have so far to go. And there is something that everyone can do about it.
While there are things that we can't influence in the short term, we can influence our own self. We can begin to respect ALL individuals. We can take words, like the "r" word, out of our vocabulary. Because I have a naive faith in human-kind, that when they say things like that...that it's not what they mean to say. But it's so hurtful. So, on March 7th, please consider advocating for respect for all. Go to www.r-word.org to take the pledge to "spread the word to end the word".
