OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM
SPECIAL OLYMPICS FLORIDA

REGARDING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S REMARKS ON THE "TONIGHT SHOW"

POSTED MARCH 20, 2009

This is a great teaching moment for our country: this incident is an opportunity to begin the broader conversation and education as to why "casual jokes" that take aim at people with intellectual disabilities and Special Olympics, as an organization that celebrates and encourages their abilities, are often hurtful, undeserved and unwarranted.

Words matter: they can cause pain and result in stereotypes that are unfair to people with intellectual disabilities.

And using Special Olympics in a negative or derogatory context can be a humiliating put-down to people with special needs and their families.

We are encouraging everyone to engage in open conversation about the damage stereotypes can cause, so that we can begin to work together to create communities of acceptance and inclusion for all.

We invite people to join our Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, a national awareness effort that will launch on March 31, where we are asking people to pledge their respect for people with special needs.

President Obama did call the Special Olympics international headquarters last night to express his regret and he apologized. He said that he did not intend to humiliate Special Olympics athletes or people with intellectual disabilities."

Read the Official Statement from Special Olympics Inc. Chairman Timothy Shriver

Watch video of Tim Shriver on Good Morning America (3-20-09)

Watch Tim Shriver on Larry King Live (3-20-09)

Want to take action?

• Pledge your respect for people with special needs now

• Learn about the national Spread the Word to End the Word campaign that starts on March 31

• Learn how you can show your support of acceptance, inclusion, respect and dignity.

• Talk to your kids, friends, family and colleagues about the issue and how we can all help "change the conversation," starting with changing our own behavior.
  

• See the humanity behind the jokes: Volunteer in your community.

• Be a part of upcoming games/competitions/events.
  

• See ways to support Special Olympics in Florida

• Put your money where your heart is: donate now!
  

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