The R word

Honestly, I haven't heard "The dreaded R word" used in years. Personally, I just think that the R word was a past phrase, like "the bomb" or "the bee's knees". This word used to be heavily used in schools and recreational areas. However, since political organizations have attacked the use of "The R word", this word has faded away. Many people realized how terrible it was to use the R word as a derogatory term. Before this phase faded, many people were hurt by the use of this word, and many efforts were made to help stop the use of the R word.

 Linda Horsman, a mother of an autistic child, took much offense when she heard the R word casually being thrown around by several teenagers in her area. She wanted to tell them that the R word had actually been banned, being replaced by the term "intellectual disability". However, she hesitated, and didn't say anything. She thought the teenagers wouldn't understand her argument, and further spread around the word. As a parent of a child with autism, she was greatly offended by this scenario.

Another mother who has a daughter with multiple mental disabilities is also greatly offended by the word. Se feels that every use of the "R word" is a personal offense against people with mental disabilities. She wants her daughter to have the same chances in life as everyone else.

Many efforts are being made to stop the use of the R word.

At St. Mark Elementary School, four hundred people, including Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl Offensive tackle, Joe Thomas gathered to "take a pledge" to "Spread the Word to End the Word". The event was organized by a parent that had an autistic child attending the school. Joe Thomas encouraged the crowd to "Respect Everybody, no matter who they are!" as the crowd roared. St. Mark has raised the bar for other schools, realizing that education is for every child, not just the "typical" kids.


Lillian, a student, had an assembly in school about "spread the word to End the word" and learned all about the cause. When asked if she had used the word, she reluctantly raised her hand, owning up to her actions. She has a cousin with a mental disability. She broke down, starting to cry.

However, one student argues that the R word doesn't need to be totally banned. Vicki, who has a brother with "mental retardation", states that the R word does not need to be derogatory. There are multiple definitions for the word "retard"

Many of us forget, but retardation is still used as a regular word, not just slang. To retard something is to hinder or slow down something, such as a fire extinguisher is a retardant for fires.

While this word can prove to be offensive to people, it doesn't mean that we have a right to "ban" the word from our vocabulary. Banning a word goes against the first amendment of the constitution, more specifically, our freedom of speech. While we should work on discouraging use of the word, it would be illegal to make it against the law to use the word.