The R-word, also known as the R-slur, is a hurtful term that is considered hate speech because it offends people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as the people that care for and support them. The R-word stands for “retard,” “retarded,” or other offensive words ending in “-tard” . While “mental retardation” was originally introduced as a medical term in 1961 for people with intellectual disabilities, in the decades since, the R-word has become an insult used all too commonly in everyday language. The R-word is a form of bullying and is the same as using any slur against a minority group. Using the R-word is hurtful and painful and, whether intended or not, is a form of bullying.

The R-word is considered offensive, derogatory, and reinforces negative stereotypes of people with a disability. It is a pejorative term either for someone with a mental disability or for someone who is considered stupid, slow to understand, or foolish). The R-word is exclusive and incorrect, and it makes people feel bad and hurts their feelings. It is wrong to pain people with your language, and when you pepper your speech with "retard" and "retarded," you are spreading hurt.

The R-word remains prevalent throughout social media, and when social media users are posting about people with intellectual disabilities, 7 in every 10 of those posts are negative, and 6 in 10 contain a slur. The use of the R-word continues to hurt people with intellectual disabilities and push them to the sidelines. Eliminating the use of this word is a step toward respect for all.

In modern use, retard is a pejorative term, and because it is now considered offensive, the word is commonly referred to by the euphemisms "r-word" and "r-slur"). It is important to be mindful of the language we use and to promote acceptance by ending the use of the R-word.