Students at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) are asking people to stop using a term that can be hurtful to people with intellectual disabilities.
Their effort to collect petition signatures is part of the “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign.
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“We’re just trying to help reduce the stigma of the word ‘retarded’ and just try and get people to stop using the word specifically and other derogatory terms,” U of S Best Buddies co-president Max Liu said.
Set up in the Arts Tunnel and the Health Science Building, the group hopes to surpass the approximately 250 signatures collected last year.
Best Buddies is a non-profit organization, which connects volunteers with people living with intellectual disabilities. Together, they do everything friends do, whether it’s a day at the movies, a visit to the zoo or simply hanging out.
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But there’s one thing she doesn’t like at all – the way she feels hearing the R-word.
“Really upset because I used to be called the R-word all the time when I was a little kid and everything,” Hampton said.
As part of the #NOGOODWAY campaign for Special Olympics, Saskatchewan police officers offered their support earlier this month.
WATCH MORE: Breaking the stigma of the ‘R’ word in Saskatoon