On Wednesday, March 7th, McLean High School students celebrated “spread the word to end the word” day.  Best Buddies promoted this movement by encouraging students to sign a banner at lunch pledging to stop using the R-word.

“We are working to raise awareness for people with IDDs (intellectual and developmental disabilities) and end the use of the R-word and other unkind words that might be used to describe people and their mental capabilities,” Best Buddies social media coordinator Anna Glenn said.

Members of the Best Buddies club sat in the cafeteria throughout all four lunches, sharing their message and asking people to sign their banner.  The club received an overwhelmingly positive response; there was a steady flow of pledge signers during each lunch.

Many students are familiar with the club’s goal of ending unkind speech towards the mentally and physically handicapped and have already made an effort to promote it.

“I think people with mental disabilities want us to stop saying the R-word because it’s really disrespectful and hurtful,” senior Chris Clancy said, “I always have to remind my friends not to say it because I know it can be really offensive.”

Members of the club hope that the support they have received is an indication that there will be a noticeable change in the community regarding use of the R-word.

“I know a lot of people who use the R-word, and every time I hear it I feel very uncomfortable because I know the weight that the word carries,” Anna Glenn said, “Considering I have a lot of friends with IDDs, it does mean a lot to me that so many people are excited to sign this banner.”