A new Special Olympics campaign called “Spread the Word to End the Word.” is pushing back against the use of the word retard. The goal is by using the word more people will shy away from using altogether.
Speaking to a developmental service worker from Community Living London, Jazmine Mcclelland shared some of her experiences with developmentally delayed people and some views around the R-word. Mcclelland said “many people won’t use it directed towards people with disabilities, but aren’t afraid to use retard with their friends as an insult.”
Speaking about her experiences Mcclelland spoke about the amazing things that people accomplish despite their disabilities. Once being used has a medical term, The word retard has since become an insult common in schools and workplaces, but people with these disabilities and those close to them feel the affects of the word no matter the context.
It is clear that for those like Mcclelland and others in her field that enough is enough and the R-words days are numbered.