As the Oregon Observer is a leader in driving local culture, I need your support, and the support of your readers, in the Spread The Word To End The Word campaign and to help make a stand against a word that is offensive to many.
The “R-word” may not seem like a big deal to some, but it’s a bigger issue than a lot of people realize. It hurts millions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those that love them.
The word hurts no matter what, it does not matter if it’s directed at a person with a disability. As part of speaking for this campaign I realized that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not treated as equal. It’s time for change and you and your readers can help.
Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes like myself accomplish great things, we are members of our local communities just like everyone else and deserve to be treated with respect no matter what. Special Olympics has given me a voice and an opportunity to stand up and say what I believe in and I don’t know where I would be without it.
Please help and drive much needed change that will bring acceptance and inclusion into our community. Your paper reaches many members of the community and with that influence you can help get all of those members of the community to take the pledge at r-word.org.
As a local leader I’m committed on not only helping make a difference but change peoples life.
Wouldn’t it be awesome to create acceptance and inclusion for all people?
Please, I need you and your readers to pledge at r-word.org.
David Thompson
Village of Oregon