Founded by two youth leaders in 2009 as Spread the Word to End the Word, the campaign focused its first 10 years on addressing a particularly powerful form of exclusion: the use of a derogatory word. Over those years, leaders and self-advocates collected millions of digital and· physical pledges to end the word. Each was a personal commitment to acknowledge the hurt caused by the word and to be respectful in the words and actions taken toward people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Local Special Olympics athletes accepted the proclamation, which asks the citizens of Key West to pledge to Spread the Word. That pledge signifies a powerful stance against derogatory language targeted at individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Outside the Commission Chambers, people were adding their names to a banner, pledging to take a stance for inclusion.