In our second to last installment, junior and Best Buddies officer Emily Calvert shares her take on why the r-word is offensive. Check out her news article on the r-word and come back tomorrow for our final guest piece.
“That’s retarded.” How many times a day do you or someone you know use this phrase in everyday conversation? More importantly, how often do you take the time to consider the impact that it has? The answer to the first question is probably quite a few and to the second probably not very often.
Yes, having an intellectual disability is a real thing. Yes, it does change the path of life for many. “Since it’s a real problem, why can’t I use it?” you may be thinking while reading this. In 2010, President Obama signed a federal law, known as Rosa’s Law, which prohibits the terms “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” from federal health, education and labor policy and the terms “intellectual” and “developmental” disability are used instead. Also, do not be so quick to assume that having a neurological difference is a burden. When you use the r-word, you are implying that people with disabilities are less capable than you and I can assure you that is not true. When you use the r-word, you are implying you have something to make fun of. Are you making fun of my friend’s ability to memorize phone numbers and zip codes of every person he meets? Are you making fun of my friend who can recite entire movies from memory? Or are you making fun of my friend who can shoot three pointers like no one else I have ever met? I am constantly astounded by the accomplishments my friends with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities have and it’s time that everyone recognize these abilities.
Don’t use the r-word, it’s as simple as that. Stop calling your friends “retards” for doing something stupid or saying that your parents are “retarded” for being old and out-of-touch. You may be trying to be funny, or maybe you are simply uninformed on how offensive the word truly is. But the fact is, the r-word is never funny. The word reduces people to a singular, demeaning word. It brings connotations of unworthy and stupid. Let me leave you with one final question. Has anything been gained by diminishing the talents of an entire community?