Please mark your calendars and celebrate the fourth annual day of awareness to Spread the Word to End the Word, March 7 , 2012, with a renewed pledge to end the hurtful and degrading use of the "R-word." This international day of awareness was created by youth with and without intellectual disabilities in order to change the conversation from one of negativity and pain to a positive message, highlighting inclusion and RESPECT for all.

While March 7th is the culmination, eliminating the R-word from everyday speech is a year-round effort with hundreds of events happening throughout the world. In order to assist our local programs, schools and communities in beginning their own local campaign, updated resources are now available online.

To access these resources and discover how you can become involved in the campaign, visit http://www.specialolympics.org/spread-the-word-to-end-the-word_resources.aspx . To make your Pledge, please follow the link below: