SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD!
The “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies International and Special Olympics supporters to raise the consciousness of society and the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word. The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools, organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support at www.r-word.org in order to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.
Pledge, and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities at the official R-WORD WEBSITE.
March 20, 2013
Click here for the R-Word Flyer!
On March 20, the Atlanta Hawks will partner with Special Olympics Georgia to “Spread the Word to End the Word”. Special Olympics Georgia agencies from around the state along with SOGA staff will attend the Hawks game against the Milwaukee Bucks. At the game will have a table set up for people to pledge to eliminate the word “Retard(ed)” from their vocabulary and encourage them to pass that along to their family and friends. Come out and join us for this wonderful night of basketball and help “Spread the Word to End the Word”.
YLEAD helping make people make a pledge to eliminate the R-word.
April 30, 2012
Click here for the R-word Flyer!
Click the links below to see some video from the R-Word Rally:
We had a wonderful time at the Braves game on April 30th at Turner Stadium. We had many people take the R-word pledge to no longer use the word “retard(ed)” in any situation whether it be in a professional or hurtful manner. David Ross, Atlanta Braves catcher, came out and pledged to eliminate the R-word. He led over 200 athletes in the pledge as well. All the athletes that came out to support Special Olympics Georgia at the “End the R-word” Rally got to parade around the baseball field at Turner Stadium for the pre-game parade of athletes. Take a look below at some of the shots that were taken at the Rally:
SOGA CEO, Georgia Milton-Sheats, and athlete, Anne McKinnon, being interviewed by Tommy McNulty, Braves staff member, about the “Spread the Word to End the Word” Rally.
Anne McKinnon and Braves catcher, David Ross, leading other SOGA athletes in the pledge to eliminate the R-word
David Ross smiling for the camera after taking the R-word pledge. Thank you David for taking time out your busy schedule to support Special Olympics Georgia!
Special Olympics Georgia athletes from Cairo, GA about to march onto the field for the parade of athletes!
Henry County SOGA athletes making their way around the field for the parade of athletes
More Henry County athletes that were really excited to be able to spread the word about ending the use of R-word at the Braves game
For more info about the R-word Rally, please contact:
Robert Yost
robert.yost@specialolympicsga.org
229-834-3434
March 2, 2011
Check out photos, taken by SOGA staffer Sean Mann, from March’s rally against the R-word at the State Capitol. Governor Nathan Deal and 100 others including other government officials participated in Special Olympics Georgia’s rally to encourage people to stop using the word “retard.” Gov. Deal also declared March 2 “Spread the Word to End the Word Day.”
Students from Jones County who are also unified sports partners, who are athletes in the program who compete with athletes who have intellectual disabilities. Other students are youth forum leaders who participated in a week-long camp last summer, learning leadership skills and about working with people with intellectual disabilities.
Though not at the capitol, other R-word rallies were held around the state including three in Dalton, and one at a Murray County Middle School.
