It is not just an expression. It never was, nor will it ever be just an expression. Saying it does not make you cool. It makes you ignorant.
All the time growing up I heard terms like, “That is so retarded” and “He’s such a retard” all the time. Most of the time I spoke out, saying that anyone who would that word in passing clearly does not know it’s meaning. Each and every time I cringed. Now, at 40, it saddens me that these ignorant statements are still being made daily, by both kids and their parents.
Mental retardation is a clinical term that doctors use to describe people with significant medical intellectual impairment. My sister was mentally retarded. She was born severe medical intellectual (and physical) impairment.
My sister was disabled. She was not stupid.
No, it is not okay to use the r-word to describe someone or something stupid. As parents it is not okay to use the r-word in front of our kids or to let them use it in passing. It is not just an expression. The r-word is hurtful. It is mean. It is ignorant. And it has to end.
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed a bill into federal law removing the words “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” from federal health, education and labor policy, replacing them with “individual with an intellectual disability” and “intellectual disability.” Rosa’s Law, inspired by 9-year-old Rosa Marcellino, signifies the taking back of dignity, inclusion and respect for all people with intellectual disabilities.
The government is doing their part. Now we have to do ours. On Wednesday, March 6th, you can do your part to spread the word to end the word by pledging and supporting the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promoting the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Click here to take the pledge.
You can also follow the campaign at https://www.facebook.com/EndtheWord and https://twitter.com/endtheword.
Let’s put an end to the ignorance. Spread the word to end the word. Won’t you?
Thanks for sharing this and helping to remind everyone that using “R” is not acceptable. I have taken the pledge and hope all of your readers do the same.
I couldn’t agree more. Such a horrible word. Off to take the pledge!
Taking this pledge for sure. It is totally unacceptable.
So glad to see we are FINALLY addressing this. A local school I was in had an assembly on this last week – it was great according to my preservice teachers!
I found your blog by hopping around the web and I’m so glad I did. Just last night I was having dinner with my 3 children and the two younger ones blurted our the “r” word and I looked at them square in the face and told them that word was not allowed. I remember very well when I was young and such words were casually used and thrown around, but I would like to think that we have come further along as a society. I applaud your post. I’m excited to find your blog. I will be following.
I’m guilty of using this word in the past but have made changes in the last couple of years to STOP completely. My kids don’t use it, never have so it’s a behavior my husband and I needed to modify.