Special Olympics Focuses On Respect In Bid To End "The R-Word"
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Special Olympics organization is spreading a message today: it's time to stamp out the "R-word."
Special Olympics, which hosts competitive games for disabled Americans, says the R-word stands for "retard" or "retarded."
Spokeswoman Michele Evans said, even if it's not intended to, it causes pain to those with intellectual and development disabilities.
"It's a way of putting other people down that actually hurts their feelings. It's demeaning. And they're of the population that's least likely to be able to defend themselves and so we want to encourage people not to say that," she said.
The group says today is its 7th annual Spread the Word to End the Word Day. This year's theme is"Got Respect," a takeoff on the well-known "Got Milk" ad campaign.
Evans said, since the Special Olympics launched the effort, more than half a million people have signed on to help eliminate the "R-word."