Bike Riding

I took Seth and Lacey to a local park that has a huge parking lot so they could get a little bike riding in without having to deal with traffic. This was Seth's first outing away from home with the scooter and he did really well. He was actually doing a steady cruising speed instead of the start/stop action we get at home. He started getting more comfortable turning also.

Lacey enjoyed getting out and stretching her legs too. It was a beautiful sunny day!

Spread the Word to End the Word

This is something I feel strongly about. The R-Word has no place in our society, it is derogatory and unnecessary. See this from the Special Olympics of Washington www.sowa.org .

Spread the Word to End the Word

Have you ever stopped to think of the damaging effects of using the word “retard?” How would you feel if a word that can be used to describe you became an insult intended to hurt other people? The word retarded is still used in the medical community as well as in our laws and legislation to describe individuals with intellectual disabilities. Unfortunately it has also become a put- down used everyday as a synonym for being stupid or dumb.

Members of the Federal Way Youth Activation Committee are taking a stand. On March 3rd, as part of the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, they will put on an assembly at Federal Way High School promoting acceptance of people with Intellectual Disabilities. During lunch students will also set up tables at Federal Way High School, as well as nearby Decatur High School and Todd Beamer High School, where students can sign the pledge to stop using the words “retard” and “retarded” in a demeaning way.

The official Spread the Word to End the Word day is March 3rd, 2010. This campaign takes aim at the derogatory use of the words “retard” and “retarded,” urging people to take the pledge to end its use. We challenge you to take the pledge at http://www.r-word.org/.

Be a fan of respect. Pledge to end the dehumanizing use of the word “retard.”