SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD 3.31.09

Please join me in this wonderful event...

Here is the link to where you can find out more information. I also pasted a lot of the info below.
http://www.specialolympics.org/stw_resources.aspx

More information…
WHAT
Spread the Word to End the Word is a National Awareness Day to raise the consciousness of societyabout the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word "retard(ed)" and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word.
The campaign will build up to 3.31.09, a day where young people across the country will rally their schools and communities to pledge their support at www.r-word.org.
WHEN
On 3.31.09, young people will Spread the Word throughout their communities and schools encourage people to take a pledge to stop saying the R-word on www.r-word.org. Activities will occur throughout the month of March.
WHO
The effort is spearheaded by college students, Soeren Palumbo (Notre Dame 2011) and Tim Shriver (Yale 2011), and led by young people and Special Olympics athletes across the country.
Celebrity activist John C. McGinley of the hit show "Scrubs" 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" 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.

EVENT AND ACTIVATION IDEAS
This National Campaign will rely on grass-roots activities for the most impact. Here are ideas on how you can participate locally in Spread the Word to End the Word.
1. Hold a local pledge event at school or in your community. Set up a laptop to encourage people to sign the www.r-word.org pledge page on the spot. Invite local Special Olympics athlete Global
Messengers to speak at an assembly.
2. Work with local sports teams to participate in a halftime event to promote Spread the Word to
End the Word.
3. Spread the word
• Use sample leaflets and talking points
• Hang posters
• Stickers
• Send e-mails
• Text / call your family and friends
• Use your social network such as: "Facebook", "MySpace", "Linked In"
• Send an Evite to friends to take the pledge and Spread the Word
4. Print and distribute leaflets throughout your community.
5. Notify the press. Call local radio shows and write letters to the editor of your local newspaper
using the samples provided in this kit.
6. Post a comment to an online social message board sharing your thoughts about the R-word and its abuse in our society.
7. Create a video speaking out against the use of the R-word to post on YouTube. Share the link
with your friends and family.
8. Post your event’s time and location in the community events section of your hometown
newspaper or in your school newspaper or Web site..

KEY MESSAGES AND TALKING POINTS
It is time we SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD and this March 31 is a national day of
awareness for America to stop and think about their use of the R-word. That R-word is not "recession," but something more hurtful and painful – "retard." Most people don’t think of this word as hate speech, but that’s exactly what it feels like to millions of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and friends.
This word is just as cruel and offensive as any other slur. Visit www.r-word.org to make your pledge today.
• Young people around the country are taking a stand and raising awareness of the dehumanizing
and hurtful effects of the words "retard" or "retarded" and are helping encourage Americans to
think before they speak.
• On March 31, visit www.r-word.org and make your pledge to not use the R-word. Our goal is to
get 100,000 pledges.
• We ask that you help us "Change the conversation" to help eliminate the demeaning use of the Rword from today’s popular youth vernacular and replace it with "respect." We are asking for your help in creating a more accepting world for people with intellectual disabilities and all those
people that may appear different, but have unique gifts and talents to share with the world.
• We’re asking every person - young and old - to help eliminate the demeaning use of the R-word (retard) –a common taunt used to make fun of others. Often unwittingly, the word is used to denote behavior that is clumsy, hapless, and even hopeless. But whether intentional or not, the word conjures up a painful stereotype of people with intellectual disabilities. It hurts. Even if you don’t mean it that way.
• People with intellectual disabilities are capable and enjoy sharing life experiences – listening to
music, playing video games, watching the latest movies, and yes, having fun – as well as working
together toward athletic excellence as they do at Special Olympics. They can attend school, work, drive cars, get married, participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to society in many ways.
• Special Olympics’ recently completed Multi-National Public Opinion Study of Attitudes toward
People with Intellectual Disabilities, conducted by Gallup, but unfortunately the study reveals that throughout the world, a large percentage of people still believe that people with intellectual
disabilities should be segregated in schools and in the workplace. This is intolerable. We need
massive attitude change now to attack and reverse the stigma that is destructive to the lives of
people with intellectual disabilities and a barrier to growth.
• As a democracy our country values equality and fairness for all citizens. If we reduce this right by using inappropriate words toward any population, it negatively impacts all of us.