Words are powerful

We are taking a stand against the use of the negative word retarded (and all of its variants).

Sadly, the r-word is fairly common and widely accepted.  Perhaps use of it continues because people don’t realise that the r-word demeans, insults and hurts people with an intellectual and/or cognitive disability and those who care about them. 

To quote our members, it ‘hurts their hearts’ and makes them feel sad and dreadful.  One offers this advice, “all people should use respectful words and not say retarded.  Retarded is an awful term which hurts many people.”

We stand firmly with our Members against this offensive and hurtful slur and are passionate about educating society to not use the r-word.  We will do what we can to bring attention to the need to stop the use of the r-word. 

Us with Minister Pitt and Di Farmer near the Speaker's Green

“Today we went to Parliament House.  We talked to the Minister and the others  [Di Farmer MP, the Minister’s advisors, and a representative from the Department of Communities] about why it is important to stop using the word retarded.”

Please join us in our efforts to eliminate the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities.

Together we can make a difference.

ben and angela

Music and Lyrics

 

Yesterday afternoon we had a visit from two of our state politicians, Di Farmer MP and the Hon Curtis Pitt, Minister for Disability Services, Mental Health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.

We are very proud of our PLACE and are always happy to show people around so, we took the Minister on a tour of TTP (Di of course has been here before – having officially opened our facility in January of 2010). 

We were glad that they came.  To quote one of our members, “it is important for all community leaders to recognise the valuable contributions that can be made by adults even if they have a disability”.

Here at The Tertiary PLACE, we are very passionate about providing authentic opportunities for our Members to take centre stage.  This was a chance too good to pass up, so we gave a couple of performances – a choir song “You’re The Voice” by John Farnham, a dance, an original song and a karaoke item.

Some people might wonder just how our choir works.  Some of our Members don’t have verbal language.  How can they participate?  What is the benefit for them?

Here’s a bit of an insight from one of our regular contributors, Ben.

“I am in a choir.  I am all about positive songs and music.  There are songs with all angry words and sounds.  Well I don’t like them.  The lyrics of songs can affect how you see the world.  I think I like the one we sang for the minister.  I like the words ‘we’re not going to sit in silence’.  I also like that I got to sing with the microphone.”

There is strength in unity and there is power is our combined voices.  We will continue to speak and sing the message of inclusion to all who will listen.