Why We Spread the Word: Guest Submission by Rachel Lamm, Special Olympics North Carolina Youth Leader
About 4 years ago my best friend, Jack, and I were at a bowling alley with a group of other athletes and unified partners. We had just gotten our bowling shoes on and were ready to start bowling, ready for a fun gathering. There was a group of men on the lane next to us and a few customers scattered around the alley. I think Jack even waved to the men, said they were “cool dudes” as he likes to make friends everywhere we go. And then we heard it. That offensive, excluding, and derogatory word. The men wanted the bowling alley to “kick those ___’s out”, I’ll let you fill in the blank as I’m sure you know exactly how they chose to use the R-word. This was the first time I had heard the r-word used directly at my friend. They didn’t use the r-word casually, as many do. Using the R-word casually or generally still hurts just as much, however these men intended for the word to intentionally hurt us. They continued to say the word louder and louder. They said that they did not want to “catch” our “disease”. The amount of ignorance that flowed so easily from their mouths shocked all of us.
My best friend has a disability, yet that does not get in the way of our connection. We are stronger together as a pair than either of us are apart. I told the men how hurtful their language was, how wrong they were to act and think that way. While they did not change their attitudes in the bowling alley (they chose to leave the alley that day) I hope that my words will ring true to them some day and they will change their ways. If you hear someone using the r-word, say something, let them know the word is not acceptable. They may not show it, but your words will impact them.
From that day on Spread the Word to End the Word meant more to both of us. We had experienced first hand how it feels when that word is used. I want to live in a world where no one uses that word. I think that this campaign is extremely important in schools and communities. While in high school, Jack and I helped with the campaign and it mad a huge difference in our school. The thing I love most about Spread the Word to End the Word is that it impacts an entire school rather than just people who choose to be a part of a Unified sport team or are actively involved in Unified Champion School programs. Our club would make videos and send representatives on the morning announcements to explain the negative impact of using that word and show the importance of inclusion. We would also have multiple Spread the Word banners to sign. The banners of signatures pledging to end the use of the r-word would fill up in less than an hour with names from both students and faculty members. Hallways that were once filled with rampant use of the r-word turned to hallways filled with “that is not cool, don’t use that word”. After a Spread the Word event, the R-word became “not cool” in our school, hearing those words made me smile. It made me smile because one day these students will become leaders in our communities, and their lives will be better because they know the abilities of their peers with disabilities. Maybe one day these students will gather a group of Unified pairs together to bowl. I hope that group of partners and athletes never have to live through what we did that day 4 years ago. I think that day is not far off in the future. That day could be today.
By Rachel Lamm
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