City of Du Quoin to pledge respect, end the use of the R-Word
On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the City of Du Quoin will unite the community to Spread the Word to End the Word, aimed at ending the hurtful use of the R-word ("retard(ed)") negatively impacting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Special Olympics Illinois and the City of Du Quoin encourage all Du Quoin residents to join sponsors during and after the city council meeting at 6 p.m. and pledge your support to eliminate the R-Word from their vocabularies. Guest speakers include Rex Duncan (Du Quoin Mayor) Paul Melzer (Director Special Olympics Illinois Southern Area 15, Caitlin Asbury (R-Word Campaign Coordinator), and Special Olympics Southern Area 15 Athlete Brenna Asbury. A drive-thru will also be set up outside to accommodate those Du Quoin residents who cannot make the City Hall meeting. The circular drive thru will be set up in the parking lot of Du Quoin City Hall allowing residents to get out and sign the poster to pledge their support or simply sign from their car.
This unique event, the first of its kind on a city wide level in Southern Illinois, was developed by Du Quoin native, current SIU student, and Special Olympics Illinois Southern Area 15 volunteer Caitlin Asbury and Du Quoin Mayor Rex Duncan.
Special Olympics Illinois Southern Area 15 Director, Paul Melzer, said "Caitlin has been instrumental in getting this campaign off the ground in Southern Illinois." In the last year alone, Caitlin has planned and successfully hosted numerous R-Word Pledge days including the 2013 Girls Winter Indoor Softball Tournament, Special Olympics Illinois Southern Area 15 Spring Games, Du Quoin High school, and a Southern Illinois Miners Baseball Game just to name a few. Melzer said, "While most college students spend their free time soaking up the experience and hanging out with friends, Caitlin spends her time promoting the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities."
'Spread the Word to End the Word' is an ongoing, year-around effort, created by students with and without IDD in 2009. The campaign continues to make great strides in the fight to eliminate use of the R-word because passionate supporters have created communities of respect. Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities. However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing, and exclusive effects the R-Word has on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"It is time we Spread the Word to End the Word and build awareness for society to stop and think about its' use of the R-word. Most people don't think of this word as hate speech, but that's exactly what it feels like to millions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and friends. Please stand behind us and come out and pledge your support to spread the Word to End the Word on November 12, 2013," said Melzer