Last week, in a hideous display of ignorance, a famous politician used one sentence in a social media post to insult countless more people than just his target.  In calling the governor of Minnesota “seriously retarded”, he signaled a blatant disregard for people living with intellectual disabilities, their families, and the people who dedicate their lives to helping others.  Then, when confronted by a reporter days later, he stood by what he said.  In so casually and publicly using a reviled term that decent people have worked tirelessly through education to remove from the public discourse, this man rekindled a shocking stigma that we need to finally bury once and for all.  With or without his help.

People with disabilities deserve more than just kindness and inclusion.  They deserve respect and civility and a life free from abuse, just like everyone else.  When a public figure uses language that belittles any marginalized group of people, and does so without regret, it should be a very big deal.  Those living with intellectual disabilities already have to fight every day just to not be left behind and words matter.  Using a vulgar term that fair-minded people kicked to the curb years ago only empowers individuals to continue to target those who need help through no fault of their own.  Society has a duty to do ensure that people with disabilities are valued and protected and not forced back into the shadows where they were too often abandoned.  Using the R word isn’t just counterproductive; it’s intentionally cruel.

Also, there should have been a far louder outcry after this incident.  Had this man used a racial epithet or an ethnic slur, it would have rightfully been front page news everywhere.  Why should using the R word be any different?  It’s a word that demonizes a class of people and one that individuals need to be held accountable for using on social media.  It also callously dismisses the work of countless people working tirelessly to help others and this too is egregious. To be clear, Venture Community Services condemns in the strongest way possible the recent use of the R word in a social media post by someone is supposed to do better than that.  We also condemn anyone who supports the use of the word in an attack on others and we lament the lack of attention this incident has received.  Perhaps this lack of attention is the reason that people with disabilities and the professionals who help them still come last so often.

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