Lauryn Harris and Nichole Hayes know how painful it is to hear people toss around derogatory slang terms like “retarded” and “retard.” Their little brother lived at St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children, which cares for children and young adults with severe physical and intellectual disabilities.
So they took the pledge. Have you?
Today is End the R-Word Day, part of Spread the Word to End the Word, an ongoing campaign by Special Olympics and Best Buddies International to raise awareness about the hurtful effects of the “r-word” and encourage people to pledge to stop using it.
To call attention to the cause, Lauryn and Nichole proudly wore their “Spread the Word to End the Word” T-shirts to work today. They, and their mother, Mary Harris, all work at t. Mary’s Home as teaching assistants, through Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs (SECEP).
That’s Lauryn at left in the photo and Nichole at right, with their mom in the middle.(Mom’s T-shirt was on back order, but she made sure to wear her “I Pledged” sticker.)
For more information, and to take the pledge, click here.