The end of the “r-word”

By Mark Haywood

Spread the word. It’s a popular slogan used by organizations and advertisers. Usually it refers to promoting an idea, not discouraging one. But this week, two groups who work with disabled people, UNC Best Buddies and Special Olympics North Carolina, campaigned on campus as part of a nationwide movement called Spread the Word to End the Word. The groups spent the week raising awareness about people living with disabilities while encouraging students to stop using the word “retarded.” They refer to it as “the r-word.”