From East to West, Advocacy is Always Best: Spreading the Word at Eastern Michigan University

For three years the Special Olympics College Program at Eastern Michigan University has been working to promote attitudes of acceptance and inclusion across campus. This organization works in partnership with another program at the university to engage both athletes and partners in their endeavors.

Eastern Michigan offers a Young Adult program to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program provides support services, transition skills, job coaches, and other community experiences to enhance their lives post-graduation. Individuals in the program are active Athletes within the organization and have the opportunity to compete in a variety of sports competitions and advocacy events each semester.

With over 30 partners, 15 athletes, and the number of members growing, the organization has a plethora of advocates across campus. Whether the organization is planning for the fall soccer league, or winter basketball competitions, everybody shares experiences and brings positivity to the competitions. This positivity is also apparent in the organization’s involvement with the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign.

“On a daily basis we try to educate people on what they’re saying and how it is hurtful to others, both individually and as a chapter,” Megan Utter, secretary and treasurer of the SO College Program, said. “We are currently working on a video for the university showcasing how students at Eastern feel about the R-word and what Unified means to our athletes and partners.”

This year, the organization worked to promote the R-word campaign on the international day of pledging. Members of the club set up a table in the student center where students could stop by and sign a banner and receive incentives for interacting with individuals at the booth. The organization has a variety of incentives including wristbands, t-shirts, and hats to pass out to students and faculty. While at the booth, both athletes and partners provide personal testimonies on their experience with the R-word, the importance of educating others not to use it, and how to approach individuals who say it.

“When people use the R-word, even if it’s in a non-hurtful way in their mind, they don’t realize the kind of hurt they put on people with any disability. When they use that word in place of calling something ‘stupid’ or ‘dumb,’ it hurts me to see how it impacts the individuals the word refers to. People with disabilities are able and capable and it is time for others to realize that,” Utter said.

If you have a story, video, photo, poem, essay, guide, dance, (or anything else) to share with the world, follow the three easy steps in this link or publish your story on Medium and email it to spalumbo@specialolympics.org. If you prefer, you could also put your story into a word document, let us know whether you would like it published under your name or anonymously, and email it to spalumbo@specialolympics.org.

Pledge your support to end the R-Word here.