March 6th is the annual day of awareness to eliminate the use of the word "Retard(ed)" from our vocabularies.
You may wonder how the word "Retarded" went from a medical diagnosis to a derogatory term and www.r-word.org offers a clear explanation:
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.
That last sentence is exactly why we are asking you to join us in our support of the "Spread the word to end the word" campaign.
Do it for Leanne.
Do it for Josie.
Feel free to help us "Spread the word" by pinning the graphic above to your Pinterest page. Simply click on the "Pin It" button below and help us promote this message of respect:
Pinned!
ReplyDeleteAmen! Done!!
ReplyDeletePinned to two of my boards and shared on Facebook, in honor of Leanne and Josie, and of my darling niece, Rebecca N., of Bull Valley, IL!
ReplyDeleteThanks for so many days of entertainment, information, and endearing photos and stories. You are an amazing blogger, mother, sister!