Movement to end use of the r-word

S.F. students say it’s hurtful, want to replace it with respect

That old playground saying about sticks and stones breaking bones but words never hurting? It’s wrong. Ask Lily Marshall-Fricker. The 21-year-old San Francisco native has heard lots of words that hurt — words tossed at her because she’s in a wheelchair, her movements limited by the cerebral palsy she’s had since birth.

“I have thoughts and opinions and I’m pretty similar to you,” she said. “I just use a wheelchair to get around.”

The r-word is one of the worst.

And she, along with her classmates at AccessSFUSD at the Arc — a program for students ages 18 to 22 who have disabilities — wants people to stop using the r-word.

“The r-word is ‘retarded’ and it hurts,” said Heidi Seretan, one of the program’s teachers. “Language affects attitudes and attitudes affect action.”

The Access students took to the steps of City Hall Wednesday to call on officials and members of the public to denounce the r-word and take a pledge to never use it.

“I don’t use the r-word because it is ignorant,” said school board member Rachel Norton, who recommended several alternate r-words to replace the offensive one, including rambunctious, resourceful, resplendent and radiant.

The student rally was part of a national campaign, staged for the ninth year, to “spread the word to end the word,” with a goal of 1 million pledges across the country. The rally in San Francisco was the city’s first.

“We should all take the pledge and join the resistance,” former state Sen. Mark Leno said at the morning event. “Resist the hate, resist the insults.”

Leno reminded students that former President Barack Obama was behind their effort, signing legislation in 2010 that removed “mental retardation” from federal health, education and labor policies, replacing it with “intellectual disability.”

“I will always stand with you to get rid of these types of bullying words,” said Supervisor Norman Yee. “My name is Norman, so call me Norman and no other name.”

Access student Amanda Jack, 20, said she gets irritated when she hears people use the word “retarded.” They often use it as a generic insult, saying it to friends on the bus or at the mall, Jack said.

“I think it’s disrespectful,” she said. “Instead of saying the r-word, they should replace it with ‘respect.’ ”

Photos by Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Above: Lily Marshall-Fricker (right) rehearses a dance routine with other AccessSFUSD students and teacher Heidi Seretan (center). Below: Students rally on the City Hall steps to protest using “retarded.”

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Lily Marshall-Fricker (center) listens to a speech by former state Sen. Mark Leno during a student rally on the City Hall steps to protest use of the r-word.