Next Wednesday, March 7, 2012, is National Spread the Word to End the Word Awareness Day.Some of you may be asking, “End what word?”
As the Spread the Word to End the Word website points out, “When they were originally introduced, the terms “mental retardation” or “mentally retarded” were medical terms with a specifically clinical connotation; however, the pejorative forms, “retard” and “retarded” have been used widely in today’s society to degrade and insult people with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, when “retard” and “retarded” are used as synonyms for “dumb” or “stupid” by people without disabilities, it only reinforces painful stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities being less valued members of humanity.”
The R-word hurts because it is exclusive. It’s offensive. It’s derogatory. The R-word is hate speech.
Here at Imagine!, some of the good folks working in our Innovations department have organized an event to help publicize this cause. There will be a banner signing and information available about how you can further support this movement. Here’s the details:
When: Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Time: 10am-2pm
Where: Imagine!'s John Taylor Conference Center, 1665 Coal Creek Drive, Lafayette CO, Erie Conference Room
If you can’t make Imagine!’s event next week (or even if you can), I strongly encourage you to visit the Spread the Word to End the Word website and take a pledge to eliminate the demeaning use of the R-word. It takes about 30 seconds to pledge.
Let’s do our part to end the word!
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