Spread The Word To End The Word 2012

http://www.r-word.org

Hi all,

To continue on my post from yesterday, which was the official day to recognize "Spread The Word To End The Word". The website is above and I strongly encourage you to visit it and check out the resources part of the website. You can buy t-shirts, bands, hats, and they have fact sheets, printable posters, and a lot more. Also, there are MANY more videos and stories in addition to the one I posted yesterday. If you are a member of our group on Facebook, Cerebral Palsy Family, I posted several of the stories I received, but there are so many more. Many thought-provoking pieces. For people who do not understand this movement or why it is "such a big deal", I think they would understand once hearing some of these accounts.

So, check it out when you have the time. It's worth it.

Blessings:-)
Amy

Below is a factsheet from the resource page of www.r-word.org:

Spread the Word to End the Word
Fact Sheet

WHAT
Spread the Word to End the Word™ is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies and our supporters to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word.

The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support at www.r-word.org and to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

WHEN
The official annual day of awareness is held the first Wednesday of every March. While most activities are centered on or near that annual day in March, people everywhere can help spread the word throughout their communities and schools year-round thru pledge drives, youth rallies and online activation.

WHO
Spread the Word to End the Word was founded by college students Soeren Palumbo (Notre Dame 2011) and Tim Shriver (Yale 2011) in 2009, and continues to be led by passionate young people, Special Olympics athletes and Best Buddies participants across the United States and in many other parts of the world.

Celebrity activist John C. McGinley is a spokesperson for the campaign.

WHY
Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities. However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the word “retard(ed).”

It is time to address the minority slur “retard(ed)” and raise the consciousness of society to its hurtful effects.

HOW
Visit www.r-word.org to learn how you can Spread the Word to End the Word.


For more information, contact:

Mandy Murphy, Special Olympics
mmurphy@specialolympics.org
202-824-0227

Or

Heather Schatz, Best Buddies
heatherschatz@bestbuddies.org
305-374-2233, ext. 207