Spread the Word to End the Word!

 Pictured from L to R: Lebanon County athlete Alysa Dreibelbis, SOPA President and CEO Matt Aaron, State Senator Andrew Dinniman, and State Representative Jake Wheatley.

Bill Moves to Remove the "R-Word"

Lawmakers are pushing to have a bill passed that would remove the words 'mental retardation' from state laws.

State Representative Jake Wheatley and State Senator Andrew Dinniman have introduced bills that would redefine the term mental retardation as intellectual disability.  During a press conference about the bills, Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete Alysa Dreibelbis and President and CEO Matt Aaron took to the podium at the State Capitol in Harrisburg on March 2, 2011 along with Wheatley and Dinniman to speak about the importance of changing the language.

The event coincided with Special Olympics' "Spread the Word to End the Word" Day.  Similar legislation has become law in several other states and at the federal level.

 Capitol Hill Day 2011

On March 2, 2011, representatives from Special Olympics Programs all over the US were in Washington for "Capitol Hill Day,” when people with intellectual disabilities and their families visit members of the U.S. Congress to share the importance of Special Olympics and Best Buddies International programs in their lives.  Eric Cushing, Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s VP of Marketing and Development attended to represent PA along with volunteer Jamie Wetzel (Area M) and athlete Jessica Clayton (Allegheny) who were part of the Youth Activation Summit at the National Games in Nebraska last summer. 

Pictured first: SOPA volunteer Jamie Wetzel (Area M) and athlete Jessica Clayton (Allegheny) pose out in from of the US Capitol building in Washington DC on March 2, 2011.  Pictured second: Jessica Clayton stands next to Congressman Tim Murphy.

Join us and help end the R-word
Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies International and our supporters to raise the consciousness of society about 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.

Click here to find year-round tools to help you host your own Spread the Word to End the Word day of awareness in your community.  If you have questions, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or call 1-800-700-8585.