Statewide Events Encourage Students to “Spread the Word to End the Word”

Seventy schools across the state did a variety of activities to promote respect, acceptance and just plain kindness in schools and communities the week of March 30.  Several schools invited global messengers to come speak at their assemblies or classes. Activities ranged from the signing of a banner at lunch, making of videos to promote STW, assemblies, to an entire week dedicated to being the change. 

Lathrop High School held a “Be the Change” week and had daily activities like:  
• Fake an Injury day - Words Hurt
• Dino/Prehistoric Day - Let's make the "R" word extinct
• Superhero Day – Be a hero and fight the word
• Ninja Day - Karate chop the "R" word-wear black

At the end of March, thousands of Special Olympics athletes, high school students and their supporters across the state participated in events to challenge and educate our society about the hurtful use of the word “retard” and encourage others to think before they speak. Students are leading events in nearly every major city designed to solicit pledges from people on www.r-word.org not to use the “R-word.” Read more about why we think this is an important issue or download a one-page flyer.

Throughout the week, people were asked to take the pledge online at www.r-word.org, or by signing a banner or pledge sheet at a local event. 

There are tons of resources available to you online, including graphics, template letters to the editor and more. You can find these resources here. You can also read some ideas on how to respond when someone uses the r-word.

Although the official "Spread the Word to End the Word" day in Missouri was March 30, you can take part in this movement any day of the year.

How to Participate

You can help support the movement by: 

1. Have everyone wear black t-shirts/shirts on a designated day as a sign of their pledge to “Black Out” the R-word from every day conversation.
2. Have a banner for students to sign to pledge not to use the r-word.
3. As a part of the regular school day, have students go to the library during the day and take the pledge at www.r-word.org. Also have them sign in at the library so you can track how many pledges your school made in one day.
4. Hold a local pledge event at school or in your community. Set up a laptop(s) to encourage people to sign the www.r-word.org pledge page on the spot and/or create a banner for people to sign on the spot. Invite local Special Olympics athlete Global Messengers or Best Buddies Buddy Ambassadors to speak at an assembly.
5. Work with local sports teams to participate in a halftime event to promote Spread the Word to End the Word.
6. Use a variety of methods to promote ending the R-word like:
• Hang posters
• Stickers
• Send e-mails
• Text / call your family and friends
• Use your social networks on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Linked In
• Join Spread the Word to End the Word’s social networking pages
• Send an Evite to friends to take the pledge and spread the word
• Use the new R-word Counter to see how many times your favorite website uses the R-word and then send the link to your friends – http://www.rwordcounter.org
• On March 30, post on your Facebook status a single word like: DIGNITY, RESPECT, UNIFY, ACCEPTANCE, COMPASSION with a link to www.r-word.org.

• The week of March 26, change your Facebook profile photo to a picture of you with a SOMO athlete or in your Spread the Word T-shirt.

7. Print and distribute leaflets/fliers (can be provided by SOMO by contacting Trish Lutz at lutz@somo.org)throughout your community.
8. Notify the press. Call local radio shows and write letters to the editor of your local newspaper using the samples provided in this kit.
9. Post a comment to an online social message board sharing your thoughts about the R-word and its abuse in our society.
10. Create a video speaking out against the use of the R-word to post on our Facebook page(www.fb.com/specialolympicsmo) or YouTube. Share the link with your friends and family.
11. Post your event’s time and location in the community events section of your hometown newspaper or in your school newspaper or website.
12. Document your activities with pictures and videos and upload them to our Facebook page! (www.fb.com/specialolympicsmo) 

Participating schools included:

CENTRAL AREA
Cuba High School
Holden H.S.
Richland H.S.
Rolla High School
Slater H.S.
Stephens College
Sweet Springs H.S.
Waynesville H.S.
Waynesville M.S.

KC METRO
Belton High School
Bridle Ridge Intermediate
Center H.S.
Excelsior Springs H.S.
Fort Osage H.S.
Lee’s Summit H.S.
Liberty Junior High
Missouri City School
Osage Trail M.S.
Plaza M.S.
Pleasant H.S.
Ruskin H.S.
Smithville M.S.
Truman H.S.
West Platte M.S.
William Chrisman H.S.
Yeokum M.S.

NORTHEAST
Marion County
South Shelby High School

NORTHWEST
Benton H.S.
Bishop LeBlond H.S.
Lafayette H.S.
Lathrop M.S.
Lathrop H.S.
Osborn H.S.
Savannah M.S.
Trenton M.S.
Trenton H.S.
Truman M.S.
Wathena H.S.

ST LOUIS METRO
Antonia M.S.
Bayless H.S.
Desoto Jr. H.S.
Fort Zumwalt East H.S.
Fox H.S.
Hazelwood West H.S.
Kirkwood H.S.
Lindbergh H.S.
Margaret Buerkle M.S.
North Kirkwood M.S.
Oakville Senior H.S.
Rockwood Summit H.S.
St. Charles H.S.
St. Charles West H.S.
St. Clair H.S.
Webster Groves H.S.
Wentzville Holt H.S.
Wentzville South M.S.
Windsor H.S.

SOUTHEAST
Campbell H.S.
Kingston H.S.
Marquand-Zion H.S.
Poplar Bluff H.S.
Portageville H.S.

SOUTHWEST
Appleton City H.S.
Joplin H.S.
McDonald County H.S.
Ozarks Technical Community College
Pierce City H.S.
Sparta H.S.