March 1 is National R-word Day of Awareness! Take a Stand Against Using the Word Retarded
For the seventh year, the Golisano Foundation is challenging the Rochester community to Spread the Word to End the R-Word™. The campaign, which has become one of the largest in the country for a single region, is being held on the national Spread the Word to End the Word day of awareness on March 1. It asks people to pledge to take a stand against using the R-word, “retard” or “retarded.” The r-word has gained popularity in culture, but is offensive and derogatory to people with developmental disabilities. Spread the Word to End the Word was started by youth and is an ongoing effort of Special Olympics International and Best Buddies.
Spread the Word to End the Word was founded in 2009 and is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics(SO), Best Buddies to inspire respect and acceptance. The Golisano Foundation has spearheaded this initiative in Rochester since 2011. The goal is to promote more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and special needs, and reach out to more people who can spread the word and pledge to use respectful language that promotes more accepting attitudes for all people. The R-Word initiative also helps celebrate the unique gifts and talentsthat people with intellectual and developmental disabilitie have and can share with the world.
How You Can Spread the Word!
- Hold a pledge event on or around March 1, 2017. Go to r-word.org and take the pledge, and to get information and resources on how to Spread the word to end the word in schools, companies and organizations.
- Send an email to your constituents asking them to take the pledge online or attend your event.
- Put a notice in your newsletters to encourage people to take the pledge.
- Add a banner to your website. (Download official graphics here »)
- Post a challenge and personal stories on social media to your followers.
- Change your organization’s Facebook cover photo. (Download official graphics here »)
- Take the pledge yourself. It only takes a minute.
- Share this email with your colleagues who can also help make a difference.
- Email the Foundation with Pledge Activities – The Foundation will recognize those organizations that are spreading the word on the golisanofoundation.org web site.
- Social Media – We will also be following along on social media. Tag us in your pictures and tweets on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtags #RocRespect #respect and #rword.
Our Thanks to These Organizations That are Spreading the Word
If your organization is having a pledge activity, please Email us to share how you are spreading the word and we will add you to this list to recognize your organization. Be sure to share photos of your events on Facebook and tag the @GolisanoFoundation and #RocRespect and also on Twitter tag @GolisanoFnd.
Special Events
- March 1 – City of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren will host a Press Conference and Proclaim the Day End the R Word Day
10 a.m. at City Hall, 30 Church Street
Mayor Lovely Warren, City Council President Loretta Scott, Golisano Foundation Director Ann Costello, Arc of Monroe CEO Barb Wale, Project Search City of Rochester interns and employees. The public is invited to take the pledge at City Hall anytime from 10 a.m. on March 1st and throughout the month of March in the Visitors’ Room of City Hall, which is just inside the Church Street entrance. - March 2 – Rochester Premiere of the film, “Diffability Hollywood,” with a panel discussion to follow with the filmmaker Adrian Esposito, who is from Rochester and has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism; and D&C Film Critic, Jack Garner. Diffability Hollywood is a documentary about Hollywood’s portrayal of people with disabilities in films throughout history. This event is presented as part of WXXI and the Golisano Foundation’s Move to Include initiative. Little Theatre 5, 240 East Avenue, 6-8:30 p.m., FREE See Flier
- March 3 – Rochester’s First Inclusive Fashion Show – Hosted by Best Buddies Nazareth and featuring models from Pittsford Central School District, Brighton Central School District and Nazareth College. Nazareth College, 4245 East Avenue, 7-9 p.m., Tickets
The following Rochester organizations will be Spreading the Word to End the Word on March 1 and other days with pledge activities on site, email and social media campaigns and more
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AADMD
- Al Sigl Community of Agencies
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AP Plumbing
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AVS Active Wear
- Baytrail Middle School
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Best Buddies – each school chapter will have an event
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Bishop Kearney HS – Bring a Buddy to School Day, Assembly and pledge signing
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Brighton High School
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Bulb Direct
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Catholic Charities Community Services
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Churchville High School
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City of Rochester
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Companion Radio
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Cornell University
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Dansville High School
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Eastman Institute of Oral Health – Pledge signings, Lobby, organized by American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) student members
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Fairport High School
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Gates High School
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Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center
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Greece Odyssey High School
- Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
- Heritage Christian Services
- Hillside Family of Agencies
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Hilton High School
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Holy Childhood – Buddies will be joining their peer buddies at Bishop Kearney for lunch and “bring a buddy to school.”
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Institute for Innovative Transition, University of Rochester Warner School
- LEND Fellows
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Mary Cariola Children’s Center
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McQuaid Jesuit High School – assembly on March 8
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Monroe Community College
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Nazareth College
- Norman Howard School
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Our Lady of Mercy High School – assembly
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Paychex
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Penfield High School
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Pittsford Middle Schools – Special Olympics NY Unified Game, March 16th
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Pittsford-Mendon High School
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Roberts Wesleyan College
Rochester Razorsharks – attending schools to assist with pledges
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Rochester Rhinos – Danny Lynd is doing a PSA
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Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rochester Knighthawks – attending schools to assist with pledges
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Rochester Museum and Science Center
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Rochester Regional Health – http://www.myrochealth.com/event/take-pledge-spread-word-end-r-word/
- Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities
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Spencerport High School
- Starbridge
- State University of NY at Brockport
- The Bonadio Group
- University of Rochester Medical Center – Pledge Signings and Art display by students from Mary Cariola Children’s Center, Cafe 601 at Strong, is located on the first floor of the hospital by the red elevators, 601 Elmwood Ave
12 – 2:00PM, Organized by American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) student members -
University of Rochester (River Campus) – Pledge Signing Event, Students will be signing the pledge, and can take pictures in a faux-selfie booth, and learn about why the r-word is harmful
Wilson Commons. Performances by Vocal Point (all female acapella group), No Jackets Required and Xclusive Step Team, 12pm-2:30pm. - Warner School of Education
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W. Irondequoit High School
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Wayne High School
- Webster Schroeder High School
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Webster Thomas High School
- WROC TV 8
- 13WHAM & FoxRochester
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WXXI & The Little Theatre – Rochester Premiere of the film, “Diffability Hollywood,” with panel discussion to follow with the filmmaker Adrian Esposito, who is from Rochester and has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism; and D&C Film Critic, Jack Garner. Diffability Hollywood is a documentary about Hollywood’s portrayal of people with disabilities in films throughout history. Theatre 5, 6-8:30 PM, FREE
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YMCA of Greater Rochester – Pledge signings in branch locations and social media campaigns
Friends of the Golisano Foundation that are participating outside Rochester
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Canisius College
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City of Buffalo – Mayor Byron Brown will kick off pledge signings
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Daemon College, Buffalo – organizing pledge events at multiple locations in Buffalo: Spot Coffee, Mr. Bills Coffee (Golisano Clinic), Grateful Grinds, Daily Planet
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Golisano Center for Community Health at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
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Golisano Children’s Hospital of South West Florida (Lee Health)
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Museum of disABILITY History, Buffalo NY
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Niagara Falls Catholic (School System)
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Niagara University
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Special Olympics NY
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State University of NY at Buffalo – night of Inclusion: games, food and Spread the Word give-aways
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State University of NY Cortland
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University at Buffalo
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Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital Syracuse, NY
Articles of Interest
- Let’s Make Respect the New R-Word – By Ann Costello, Huffington Post
- 22 Respectful Ways to Respond When Someone Uses the R-Word
- A Word Gone Wrong – By Lawrence Downes, Sunday NY Times
- A Word Can Be a Matter of Life and Death – by Matthew Holder, President Elect, American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry, and Global Medical Advisor for Special Olympics
In the News
