01/30/2026
The R-word is back, and people with disabilities are at the center of its impact. We won't accept a culture where the people we care about are demeaned.
The New York Times just reported on the resurgence of this slur and featured three people connected to The Arc: advocates Jill Eglé and Nicole LeBlanc, and our CEO Katy Neas. Katy is clear: it is “language used by bullies to bully.” Jill shared what it was like to be targeted: “They all called me the R-word, and I tried to be nice, but it was hurtful.” Nicole described the harm: “It makes me want to run, hide and curl up into a ball.”
We've fought for decades to push this word out of laws and everyday life. Seeing it return is heartbreaking, and it's a warning sign about how we as a society value respect and inclusion.
Please read and share. Then do one simple thing today: don't repeat it, and don't laugh it off when someone else does.
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