Not Acceptable R-word PSA

"Not Acceptable" is a powerful and compelling 30 second public service announcement which gives voice to a variety of diverse communities each of whom expresses that it is not acceptable to call them by what were once common words, but are now recognized as offensive slurs. It culminates in actress and self-advocate Lauren Potter from "Glee" stating that it is not acceptable to use the word 'retard' and she and "Glee" co-star Jane Lynch make a call to action to stop using the word and to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to make their pledge online at http://r-word.org.

The PSA was launched by the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, an on-going initiative from Special Olympics and Best Buddies to eradicate the derogatory use of the word "retard(ed)" from everyday use and promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"Not Acceptable" was executive produced by Jim Serpico and Tom Sellitti of New York based Apostle, and shot, produced and edited by Spot On Productions from City Island, NY.

The PSA is supported by several national advocacy organization including the Anti-Defamation League, Special Olympics, Best Buddies, GLAAD, The Hispanic Federation, National Puerto Rican Coalition, The Asian-American Foundation, AbilityPath.org and the NAACP.

*Comments are, as they are in all our videos, moderated for appropriateness. We welcome conversation and dissent, but will not allow comments that do not help move the conversation forward in a productive manner.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• public service announcement
• Special Olympics
• Best Buddies
• Spread the Word
• End the Word
• retard
• R-word
• respect
• Apostle
• Spot On
• nigger
• fag
• spic
• chink
• kike
• GLAAD
• Anti-Defamation League
• NAACP
• The National Action Network
• The Hispanic Federation
• The Asian American Foundation
• AbilityPath.org

[smartmoron62]

@meganbreaksfaces Because it's not being used as a description for those people, it's being used as a derogatory term synonymous with "stupid" when those people are NOT stupid, they're developmentally disabled. They can't help that, they don't need to be compared with jackasses who do dumb shit because it "seems fun."

[hamburglar8]

So the real message here is "Be Dishonest?"

[justbeiiingme29]

@meganbreaksfaces

A word that once characterized a medical condition (being mentally "retarded"), is now used as an insult.("you're so retarded").Would you call your friend "tetraplegic" just 'cause they tripped over something?

[Agora2021]

Oh man, these comments man.

I can't stop laughing.

[XxRgirlxX]

My school is starting to promote this program, and my class is making a video for it. I hope it's effective.

[Mikesane]

I have a mentally handicapped cousin that used to ruthlessly pull my hair when I was between 3 and 5. I think I earned the right to use the word Retard.

[TheNativedude84]

@meganbreaksfaces lets say someone walks up to you on the streets and calls you a Bimbo, is that jast a word too...

[aftertouchbeatz]

@meganbreaksfaces that doesn't really work though since blacks were originally called Niggers yet we don't still use the words

[McmullenEJ]

words? aaaahh comment? (french)

[wenders99]

So should we expect a movement whenever a word is perverted into inaccurate or inappropriate speech?