Wednesday, the Student Empowerment Network hosted “Spread the Word to End the Word” in the Health Sciences Library, an event that raised awareness about the derogatory evolution and use of the words “retard” and “retarded.”
According to the Student Empowerment Network, the purpose of the “Spread the Word to End the Word” movement is to raise awareness of the harmful effects of using the word ‘retard,’ and also to encourage ending the use of the term in
daily speech.
The event detailed how the “r-word” evolved from a purely medical term to a derogatory term used in common conversation within society.
The term ‘mental retardation’ was originally used by healthcare professionals to describe individuals with intellectual disabilities, according to the Student Empowerment Network. It has evolved into a derogatory term often used to insult someone or something, usually implying stupidity. The use of the r-word links stupidity with people with intellectual disabilities, which of course is both demeaning and
entirely inaccurate.
The Student Empowerment Network offered students a variety of ways to get informed about and involved in ending the use of the word.
“We wanted to bring attention to the fact that the r-word is not politically correct anymore,” Kim McClintick, a junior in the school of Pharmacy and Health Professions said. “It used to just be medical terminology, but it has been thrown out because we have better, more correct terms, today.”
At the event students signed a banner pledging to stop using the “r-word” and took ribbons to tie to their bags that will raise awareness about ending the use of the word.
“We want people to respond if they hear that word being used out in public in a derogatory sense, especially healthcare workers,” McClintick said.
The Student Empowerment Network is a group that works year round throughout campus to advocate for those with disabilities.
“We are an interdisciplinary organization, mostly comprised of graduate students, but we work with the undergrads as much as possible to spread disability awareness around campus,” McClintick said. “We host different events, including a wheelchair scavenger hunt and Disability Days on the mall where we set up tables and implement a physical or learning disability.”
The Student Empowerment Network works in collaboration with the American Disability Association (ADA) to provide information and enrichment activities that spread awareness around campus and support causes aligned with the ADA, such as hosting a Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics.
Both the ADA and the Special Olympics actively support ending the use of the r-word.
According to specialolympics.org, “words matter.” Words can open doors to cultivate the understanding and respect that enable people with disabilities to lead fuller, more independent lives. Words can also create barriers or stereotypes that are not only demeaning to people with disabilities, but also rob them of their individuality.
For more information, please visit http://www.r-word.org.