College student fights the R-word for her brother

I am happy to report the author of this article in Towson University's The Towerlight is one of my students. Way to go Olivia!

By Olivia Obineme, The Towerlight

Standing in line at a local McDonald’s, an individual called Towson junior Rianna Stokes’ 34-year-old brother, Daniel, a retard.

“That’s my brother’s all-time favorite restaurant and the adults behind me were slapping their wrists across their chests, acting like what they believe a ‘retard’ acts like,” Stokes said.

Daniel was born with Down syndrome and lives with the cognitive levels of a 3 to 4-year-old child. According to Stokes, the word “retard” and its various forms are not supposed to be used in a derogatory way.

“For someone to turn the word that was once used to describe someone with an intellectual disability and turn it into a way to describe things negatively is just wrong,” she said.

That is why Stokes, a special education major, said she makes sure that she stops people from misusing the ‘r’ word.

Stokes is doing her part to promote the pledge, “Spread the Word to End the Word” sponsored by Special Olympics and Best Buddies International.

“Spread the Word to End the Word” is a campaign “created by the youth to engage schools, organizations and communities by raising the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard[ed]” and encouraging everyone to stop using the R-word,” according to the Special Olympics Web site.

The specific day for “Spread the Word to End the Word” began in 2009 at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Global Youth Activation Summit.

“It’s a nationwide campaign that is basically a petition of sorts where people pledge to stop using the word in a derogatory fashion,” Stokes said.

Every chapter takes part in the campaign, including Special Olympics Maryland.

Vice president of public relations with Special Olympics Maryland Kelly Schniedwind said in 2009 the Maryland chapter did go to three or four schools where they made student committees that discussed the “r” word.

“We encouraged students to stop using the word and gave away T-shirts, having them pledge not to use the ‘r’ word,” Schniedwind said.

Schniedwind said the message is not to point fingers, but to have people, especially the youth, to stop and think before they use the word.

“Ninety percent of people who say the word most of the time don’t mean it and it’s just part of their vernacular,” she said.

Stokes said she agreed.

“I think society has made that word a part of our everyday culture, but I also believe it’s a choice for people to use that word,” Stokes said. “For instance people have the choice to use other words such as “fool” or “dummy,” words that were made to be used in a derogatory fashion, not words that were made to describe someone with an intellectual disability.”

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel used the word last month to describe a plan for liberal activist to buy ads criticizing Democrats on health care reform.

Republican and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin spoke out in anger, saying that he should be fired. At a later date, conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh used the word ‘retard’ during his radio show, but Palin did not call for his firing.

Stokes said it doesn’t matter who you are. Using the word in a derogatory way is wrong, but she is glad they said it.

“It’s raising awareness around the country about the use of the word and it’s hurtfulness toward others, but no one should be allowed to say this word, politically or not,” she said.

Nevertheless, Stokes said she will continue to stop the misuse of the ‘r’ word and hopes that people will be aware of the hurt it causes so many families and supporters like her and her brother Daniel.

One day, Daniel can go into his favorite restaurant and enjoy his meal respectfully, without being called names, Stokes said.

“I think now that it’s 2010, people need to open up their eyes a little bit and realize that they’re not perfect,” she said. “We all need to learn to accept and respect those around us.”