It bothers me when I hear parents use the word "RETARD" on casual conversation or around their kids. These kids will think that it is okay to use this word and will eventually say it around their friends and classmates. "It's really important to get younger people involved and for them to understand that calling people names hurts their feelings," said Anthony Kennedy Shriver.March 3, 2010 was the national day for "SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD" Campaign, a national movement led by Best Buddies International and Special Olympics International. The goal is to get people to stop and think about their hurtful and disparaging use of the word “retard” or "retarded" and pledge to stop using it.
Best Buddies International is nonprofit organization founded in 1989 that establishes volunteer services to create opportunities for one-one-one friendships and integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Special Olympics, established by Shriver's mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1967, is a global nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., that offers year-round sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities in more than 180 countries.
