Thursday, March 4, 2010
Some University students are dedicated to raising awareness about something they see as a common problem: the use of the word “retard.”
The campaign, Spread the Word to End the Word, is in its second year. Advocates say the campaign seeks to raise awareness that the “r-word” is frequently used casually by people who don’t realize how offensive it is. They say the word offends a large group of people, including people with intellectual disabilities and their families and friends. During the campaign, people are encouraged to sign a pledge to eliminate the use of hurtful words in everyday conversation.
Colleen Jones, a sophomore from Overland Park; Rachel Roth, a sophomore from Overland Park; and Emmy Merril, a sophomore from Leawood, sign a pledge to eradicate the "r-word." The Best Buddies campus organization tabled on Wescoe Wednesday afternoon on behalf of the Special Olympics.
Victoria Renn, a sophomore from Overland Park, was one of the students who encouraged passersby to sign the pledge Wednesday in front of Wescoe Hall. Renn is the president of Best Buddies, an organization that pairs volunteers with people who have intellectual disabilities. She said she loves when her buddy, Donald, hangs out and eats dinner with her and her roommates or goes to the grocery store with her. She said working with Best Buddies made her more aware of the effect of words used to refer to people with intellectual disabilities.
“It’s taught me a lot about different types of people, and I think doing things like that lets people be aware of hurtful words about people who are our friends and that we’ve built relationships with,” Renn said.
Clint Armistead, a senior from Overland Park who works with both Special Olympics and Best Buddies, said it’s important to look past outward differences of people with intellectual disabilities and find out who they are and what they are like. He said he met an individual who loved movies and had a movie collection that covered three walls.
“Had I seen him for the fact that he fidgets with his hands and mumbles to himself every now and then — had I seen him for that, I probably would have stepped back and said ‘that’s weird,’” Armistead said. “But the fact that I was able to overlook that and look for the similarity and things we have in common, I can go over and watch movies with him and talk movies. It’s an enjoyable time to hang out with him because I’m looking at his similarities and not his differences.”
Chris Hahn, CEO of Special Olympics Kansas, said the event promoted the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in society.
“We’re not saying to ban it or get rid of it, but we’re trying to let people know that it’s a word that when it’s said, it’s hurtful, it’s mean,” he said.
Hahn said his daughter has an intellectual disability and that he hears people use the word “retard” when referring to her in public.
“You hear that and see that, and you think, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to take Emily out and for people to just accept her for who she is and what she is?’” he said. “If we’re going to move forward and be a good place for all of us to live, we have to accept diversity, and acceptance has to be part of that inclusion.”
Best Buddies and Special Olympics teamed up for this year’s campaign. The local chapter of Best Buddies had a goal for 1,000 people to sign the pledge. The organizations had a goal of 100,000 pledges worldwide.
Renn said the long-term goal of the campaign was to encourage people to use a different word if they don’t intend to be hurtful.
Armistead said about 300 students signed the pledge last year. The volunteers hadn’t counted the pledges, but by Wednesday afternoon Armistead said he thought there were already more signatures than last year.
— Edited by Allyson Shaw
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