Earlier this week, I corrected someone on using the "r-word." For those of you who don't know, this word is "retard." I feel uncomfortable even typing it. Yet, this person had no problem at all using this word in a derogatory way, and when corrected they told me that they didn't believe in "political correctness."

Not using the r-word is a practice that goes way beyond simply "political correctness." Disregarding how it harms people is at the most, inherently evil, and at the least, incredibly ignorant.

This is a word that was used as a medical diagnosis in very recent history. How would you like it if someone used your medical diagnosis as an insult? If you heard the word thrown around to describe things that people dislike, to describe people who may have made a mistake? Throwing this word around is a way of devaluing people. When you angrily yell the r-word at someone who cut you off in traffic, you are also yelling that you think the same of people with disabilities. This not only impacts those who may have a disability, it how other people view people with disabilities. It makes people think that having a disability is inherently bad.

Your words have power. Your words impact people more than you think. Since people started using the r-word as a slur to describe things they dislike and people that have upset them, they changed the medical diagnosis. This is like if they had to find a new word for "diabetes" because people began using the word "diabetic" as an insult. This just shows how much people's words can change the world. There needs to be a cultural shift towards respect for those with disabilities.

People who have disabilities do not want to be pitied. They do not want to be looked down upon. No matter what someone's abilities may be, they deserve to be a respected member of their community. When you use the r-word, you are inherently disrespecting anyone and everyone around you that may have a disability. You are also insulting people who love someone with a disability.

Before you use this word, you need to have a full understanding of how it may impact the people around you. You have to know that every time you use this word you are devaluing several members of your community for things beyond their control.

There are many things you can do in order to be a person who is proactive about demanding respect for people with disabilities:

1. Educate yourself

Know the language you should be using. Talk to people with disabilities and understand their thoughts and opinions. Listen to people with disabilities and learn from them. People with disabilities have passions, beliefs, and many have fought for political and social change so that they have more rights. Be open to learning about which rights they need, and how they want to be treated.

2. Use 'person first' language

When referring to someone with a disability, use the person's name or other descriptors before mentioning their disability. For example, he is not "the autistic man", he is "the man who has autism". When talking about someone with a disability, it is also kind and helpful to mention their name and other things about them before mentioning the disability.

In some situations, it should not even be used as a descriptor or identifier at all. For example, instead of saying "I work with a down syndrome lady", you can say "My co-worker Erin is really funny and always has a positive attitude. She also has Down Syndrome." This way, you are showing that you value the person and their personality. Too often people with disabilities are referred to as just their diagnosis, and we can stop this.

3. Never pity someone with a disability

Your pity may not be coming from a bad place, but people with disabilities do not need your pity. This is just another way of focusing on what a person cannot do than what they can. People with disabilities can live long, full, and happy lives. They have passions and goals just like everyone else. No matter what someone's abilities may be, I can assure you that they would rather you see them as a capable human being who deserves your respect.

Taking these steps is an important part of making sure everyone in the community feels respected. I hope that there can be a cultural shift toward respect for people with disabilities. This issue goes way beyond "political correctness", it's about respect. It's about taking responsibility for your own actions and language. Together, we can be a catalyst for change.