The R-word (also written r word) is a short way of referring to the word "retarded" and its variations without saying it out loud. It was once a medical and legal term for people with an intellectual disability. Over time it became a common insult used to mean "stupid" or "worthless." Today Special Olympics, The Arc, and most other disability groups consider it a slur, and U.S. federal law has replaced the old term with "intellectual disability." In this entry, we write the word only once, here, and use "R-word" from now on.
What does the R-word mean, and where did it come from?
The word comes from a Latin root meaning "to slow down" or "delay." In the 20th century, doctors, psychologists, and lawmakers used a clinical term built on it to describe people with significantly below-average intellectual functioning and limits in everyday adaptive skills. At the time, it was meant as a neutral description.
Language does not stay neutral when it is used to hurt people. As the term spread into schoolyards and everyday slang, it came to be used as a put-down for anyone or anything seen as foolish. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and advocates have explained for decades that hearing the word used this way is painful, because it ties their identity to an insult.
A short history of the term
The history of disability language has a clear pattern. Clinical labels for intellectual disability have been replaced several times as each one turned into an insult. In the early 1900s, words such as "idiot," "imbecile," and "moron" were official diagnostic categories used by psychologists. They later became everyday put-downs, and the newer clinical term replaced them before following the same path.
Over the late 20th and early 21st centuries, professional groups moved away from the old term. The organization now called the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) changed its name in 2007 to drop the term. The DSM-5, published in 2013, uses "intellectual disability" (intellectual developmental disorder). Federal law followed in 2010.
Rosa's Law (2010)
Rosa's Law is a federal law signed by President Barack Obama on October 5, 2010. It replaced the old term with "intellectual disability" in federal health, education, and labor statutes. It is named after Rosa Marcellino, a girl with Down syndrome from Maryland, whose family pushed to change how the law described her. Maryland had already made a similar change at the state level.
Because of Rosa's Law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) now lists "intellectual disability" as one of its disability categories. The federal special education regulations at 34 CFR 300.8 use this term. The law changed the words, not the rights. Students who qualified for special education under the old term kept the same services and protections.
Spread the Word to End the Word: the pledge to end the R-word
Spread the Word to End the Word is a campaign started in 2009 by young people working with Special Olympics and Best Buddies International. The name, "spread the word to end the word," summed up its goal: end the use of the R-word in everyday language. It asked people to take a pledge to stop using the R-word and to think about how their words affect others. Over the years, many students and adults signed the pledge online and at school events. Schools, sports teams, and youth groups across the country took part, often with a yearly day of action in March.
In 2019, the campaign was renamed Spread the Word. The focus moved beyond one word to a wider goal: creating inclusive schools, workplaces, and communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The message is that ending the slur is a first step toward dignity and respect, and including people is the goal.
Why the R-word is offensive
Advocacy groups often call it a form of hate speech because it is used to demean and dehumanize people. It is hurtful even when the speaker does not mean to target anyone.
There are a few reasons advocates ask people not to use it, even as a joke:
- It is used as a put-down. Most people who say it today are not describing anyone's diagnosis. They are using it to mean "dumb." That links people with intellectual disabilities to something bad.
- It hurts real people. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities have often heard the word used against them while being bullied.
- It shapes attitudes. Casual put-downs can normalize and reinforce exclusion, which affects how people with disabilities are treated at school and at work.
- Better words exist. "Intellectual disability" is accurate, respectful, and the preferred term in law and medicine today.
Why the term is showing up again
After years of decline, Special Olympics and other groups have reported that it is again being used more often on social media and in parts of pop culture. Advocates say this renewed use shows why language matters and why people still need to speak up when they hear it.
How to take action
You do not need to be part of a campaign to help end the R-word. Simple steps make a difference:
- Stop using it yourself, including as a joke or in texts and posts.
- When people using the R-word are friends or family, explain calmly why it is a hurtful term.
- Report posts that use the R-word as an insult to target someone.
- Volunteer with Special Olympics, Best Buddies, or a local disability group to practice inclusion in real life.
People-first and identity-first language
Choosing respectful words is about more than avoiding one slur. There are two common styles:
- People-first language puts the person before the disability: "a student with an intellectual disability," "a child with autism." It stresses that the disability is only one part of who someone is. Rosa's Law and IDEA use this style.
- Identity-first language puts the disability first: "an autistic student," "a Deaf adult." Many autistic people and members of the Deaf community prefer it, because they see their disability as part of their identity.
Neither style is always right. The best approach is to ask the person, or follow the words they use for themselves. Supporting self-advocacy means letting people choose how they are described.
Respectful language in school
Teachers and parents can help students learn why words matter without shaming them. Some practical ideas:
- Respond calmly when a student uses the word. Many kids repeat it without knowing its history. A short, private explanation often works better than a public lecture.
- Offer other words for what the student means, like "silly," "frustrating," or "ridiculous."
- Include disability history and stories by people with disabilities in lessons, and practice inclusion every day.
- Use accurate terms in paperwork and meetings, such as the IDEA category names in an IEP.
- Build inclusive activities, like unified sports or peer mentoring, so students know each other as classmates. This fits well with the idea of the least restrictive environment.
- Address repeated slurs aimed at a student with a disability as bullying. When harassment based on disability is severe or ongoing, schools have duties under Section 504 and the ADA, and the Office for Civil Rights enforces those laws.
Frequently asked questions about the R-word
What is the R-word?
It is a way of naming a former medical term for intellectual disability without saying it. Today it is widely seen as a slur.
Why is the R-word offensive?
It is mostly used today to call someone stupid, which connects people with intellectual disabilities to a put-down. Many have also heard it while being bullied.
What did Rosa's Law change?
Signed in 2010, it replaced the old term with "intellectual disability" in federal health, education, and labor statutes, including IDEA. It changed the language only, not anyone's eligibility or rights.
What should I say instead of the R-word?
When describing someone's diagnosis, say "a person with an intellectual disability," or use the words the person prefers. When you mean something is silly or frustrating, just say that.
Is it still used in any official settings?
Federal statutes, medical manuals, and professional groups have largely dropped it. Some older documents or state rules may still contain the old term, but the trend has been to replace it.
