Schaumburg High School joins fight against 'R-word'

Special Olympics has launched a national campaign called "Spread the Word to End the Word."

"Spread the Word to End the Word" is a campaign created by youth, in an ongoing effort with Special Olympics and Best Buddies International to engage schools, organizations and communities by raising the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word "retard(ed)" and to eliminate the word from people's vocabulary.

On March 3, youth are leading the second annual day of awareness devoted to educating and raising awareness of the positive impact individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have in our communities and why the use of the "R-word" is hurtful, even in casual conversation.

Schaumburg High School, through its Leadership class, was chosen as one of three schools in the state, and the only high school in Illinois, to participate in this program.

On Wednesday, Feb. 17, students from Leadership classes will compete in their own version of a Donald Trump-like "Apprentice." Nine student teams are competing in order to design the best schoolwide campaign to raise awareness and educate students about the destructive nature of the "R-word."

A special panel of judges, comprised of Special Olympic Board members and staff, as well as other local officials, will be choosing a winning campaign which will then be implemented in the upcoming weeks at Schaumburg High School.