Best Buddies educate about use of R-word

Blond hair. Blue eyes. Sixteen. Videogamer. These are the words IU freshman Jake Hartmeister used to describe his younger brother, who is diagnosed with severe autism.

One word he would never use is “retarded.”

Wednesday night, the IU chapter of Best Buddies sponsored an event in Willkie Auditorium that featured inspirational videos, testimonials and performances to raise awareness about the hurtful effects of the R-word. Best Buddies is a club at IU that pairs people with intellectual disabilities in friendships with college students. The event was part of “Spread the Word to End the Word,” an annual nationwide campaign that aims to end the derogatory use of the word “retard.” 

Hartmeister and many others pledged at the event not to use the R-word.

“If people personally knew someone with a disability, they would never use the R-word,” Hartmeister said.

Hartmeister said he has felt firsthand the hurtful effects of the R-word.

“When it happens it just kind of means a lot more to me than ‘stupid,’ because my brother has autism, and he is mentally handicapped,” Hartmeister said.

Historically, the word “retard” was used as a medical term, but during time, the word has become public and derogatory.

“I think Spread the Word to End the Word is trying to combat the ignorance,”
Hartmeister said.

At the event, disabled and non-disabled members of Best Buddies joined together for this purpose.

Dan Scherer-Emunds, publicist for Best Buddies, said he learned valuable lessons from getting close to the buddies.

“Once you get to know people with disabilities, it’s easy to see how similar we are, and they are just outcast from society sometimes,” Scherer-Emunds said.

An audience of about 100 crowded the auditorium and cheered in support of the buddies who gave their testimonials and performed. Booths with pictures of the buddies and their art were set up in the back of the auditorium, along with a banner with signatures of those who pledged not to use the R-word.

“As tonight has exemplified, every person has abilities, and the focus should be more on their abilities than their disabilities,” club member Brittany Glaze said.

Laughter rose from the seats of disabled club members during performances.

“They are having so much fun just experiencing this with everybody,” audience member Nick Belna said. “You can just see on their face how happy they are.”

IU dance ensemble The Hoosierettes also performed to show their support.

The IU chapter of Best Buddies is part of the international organization that supports the equal treatment of the disabled. Through volunteering, the organization aims to create friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to its website.

Best Buddies’ purpose of the campaign is to help abolish stereotypes about the
disabled.

“It’s about raising awareness and creating respect and realizing we all aren’t that different,” Scherer-Emunds said.

Glaze said this has become obvious to her, as the most rewarding thing about her experiences in the club were the genuine friendships she made with the buddies.
“Whether someone has a disability or doesn’t, we can all learn from each other,” Glaze said.