Spread the Word to End the Word refers to the r-word - retard. This effort, spearheaded by the Special Olympics and Best Buddies International, wants to replace that r-word with the r-word respect.

Spread the Word to End the Word was created by youth with and without intellectual disabilities who participated in the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The campaign promotes the positive contributions people with intellectual disabilities make to communities around the world and is a call to action to pledge to stop using the word and to make the world a more accepting place for all people.

What can your club do to Spread the Word to End the Word?

• March 2, 2011 will mark the third annual day of awareness for "Spread the Word to End the Word." Youth around the world will host rallies and encourage others to stop using the r-word.
• Your club members can make a pledge online to stop using the r-word and download a badge.
• Raise awareness in your school or community about the hurtfulness of the r-word. Click here for a Spread the Word to End the Word toolkit if you plan to hold an event.
• Create a pledge form for kids to sign. Make up your own pledge or use the following:
  I pledge to treat all persons with respect.
  I pledge not to use the r-word and to encourage my friends to do the same.
  I pledge to Spread the Word to End the Word. _________________________
  Name and Date
• Make badges. The badge is posted at the top of this page Download the badge as a jpeg from the website and attach to cardboard. Add a safety pin with a small piece of duck tape. Wear your badge on March 2, 2011.
• Submit a Club Response Card.