Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver and First Lady of Idaho Lori Otter get the party started at Global Youth Rally 2009 -- a celebration of inclusion, courage and the human spirit.It was a major party with over 2,000 youth -- many from Idaho (the host of the concurrent 2009 Special Olympics Winter Games), and joined by many others from across the United States and around the world. But it was a party with a major message, delivered in many ways by many voices, and coming through loud and clear: If we don't figure out how to be more inclusive and respectful of all people, we as a society and civilization are in major trouble. And there are no more courageous and worthy leaders of this effort to unify than those with intellectual disabilities.
Out is the "R-word" -- the derogatory epithet "retard" thrown around so casually by so many. We heard very movingly how painful this word is to those with intellectual disabilities, not to mention to their friends and loved ones. Rejected also, for that matter, is the very notion of disability; we all have our strengths and weaknesses -- better described by a new word "diffability" offered by Tim Shriver to mean "different abilities". Already this idea has spawned some new phrases in our school back in Arlington, Virginia: "That's just my diffability kicking in;" and, "I'm diffabled -- and proud of it!"
No comments:
Post a Comment