The "r" Word Campaign

The “R” Word

stopsayingretard — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:29:37 +0000

One of my favorite little games to play with people who think that words don’t matter is to ask them to replace the word “R” word with the “N” word. “Your daughter won’t remember to take her medication because she’s a [“N” word],” doesn’t quite seem as acceptable for a doctor to tell a parent, does it?
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2012/01/the-ldquorrdquo-word

The “R” Word

Jan 23, 2012

Matthew Hennessey

7 Comments »

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Stop Using It!

stopsayingretard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:48:55 +0000

How about setting an example for society and YOUR CHILDREN and just stop using them. The “R” Word, racial slurs, all of them. There is never a time or place for them. Ever. You aren’t being cute or funny when you use them. It just makes you look like an uneducated, insensitive JERK.

http://themavenofsocialmedia.com/2012/01/the-r-word/

For Those Who Think It Doesn’t Matter…

stopsayingretard — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:07:23 +0000

A recent comment we recieved;
“Someone pinned one of my disabilities advocacy pins on Pinterest and changed the comment underneath to be derogatory. After commenting back and forth, he turned around. He said that he did a Goggle search on “retard” and was disgusted by what he saw. I did the same thing on YouTube, Google and Razzle and became angry, sad, digusted and sickened by my results. This has become such a part of our culture and needs to stop.”

What do you see when you do a search for ”retard” on the Internet? Does it make you angry, sad, disgusted, sickened?

What are you going to do about it?

What Does Retarded Mean?

stopsayingretard — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:01:01 +0000

http://phoebeholmes.com/2011/12/23/being-retarded/

Pennsylvania ‘Words Do Matter’ Bill to be signed into law

stopsayingretard — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:05:12 +0000

Advocates for the disabilities community said the change is not a move toward political correctness, but rather a step forward for the community that will have a profound effect on their members and how they are viewed by others.

http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/sen-dinnimans-words-do-matter-bill-to-be-signed-into-law/8fb0a543ba63427ca0e3e9cd80ccf0a2

Missouri Eliminates R-Word, Creates Check-Off for Waiting List Donations

stopsayingretard — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:41:44 +0000

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has signed into law the Missouri Most Vulnerable Persons (MVP) Act, a piece of omnibus legislation dealing with multiple issues relating to individuals with disabilities. The bill was sponsored by state Representative Jeff Grisamore (R-Lee’s Summit/Greenwood), chairman of the House Special Standing Committee on Disability Services, created this year by House Speaker Steve Tilley and charged with passing legislation that is responsive to concerns in the disabilities communities. The Missouri MVP Act includes provisions that would:

§ remove all references to “mentally retarded” or “mental retardation” or “handicapped” in state law, changing them to “developmentally disabled,” “developmental disability” or “disabled;”

§ create a tax check-off whereby Missouri taxpayers can donate through their state tax return to help reduce the Developmental Disabilities Waiting List;

§ add individuals with developmental disabilities, especially autism, to the list of people whose service dogs must be allowed access to public places, especially for search and rescue of a person who may become lost;

§ create new protections to protect the parental rights of individuals with disabilities; and designate the month of October as Disability History and Awareness month in Missouri’s K through 12 public schools.

FMI:

http://lstribune.net/lees-summit-news/missouri-house-passes-historic-disabilities-legislation.htm

http://dmh.mo.gov/docs/dd/DirectConnectSept.pdf

The legislation can be read at http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills111/billpdf/truly/HB0555T.PDF.

Project Unify, ending the ‘R’ word for good

stopsayingretard — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:29:23 +0000

Four high schools in the Boise School District are part of a big community service project this week! They are working on Project Unify, a major effort to put an end to the use of the “R” word. It’s all about acceptance, inclusion and awareness. People with disabilities are often targeted with the “R” word. These high schools are pushing to make it known that it’s not okay!

http://www.ktvb.com/community/blogs/maggie-omara/Poject-Unify-ending-the-R-word-for-good-132527913.html

End The R Word (These Are People)

stopsayingretard — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:25:44 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=802h86XsWjQ

Faculty told not to use “R-word”

stopsayingretard — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:13:58 +0000

At the suggestion of a Student Assembly initiative, faculty and staff received an email from the William & Mary’s College administration Thursday reminding them to be more conscientious of their language — specifically to avoid using the word “retard.”

http://flathatnews.com/content/75970

“Dear Colleagues,
As part of our ongoing effort to create a collegial learning environment, please remember to consider the terms used in lectures and class discussion. For example, the word retarded has returned in slang usage to mean dumb or stupid, but this is not an appropriate way to use the word in class. It reinforces stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities, suggesting that they are less valued members of society.

“Thank you for your continued efforts to create a positive and creative learning environment for William and Mary students. Your thoughtfulness and commitment to undergraduate education makes William and Mary the unique liberal arts campus that it is.” — Dean of Undergraduate Studies Kelly Joyce

Retard

stopsayingretard — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 01:57:04 +0000

http://youtu.be/1iSlok6muY0