Special Olympics, Best Buddies International and supporters from around the world will unite on Wednesday, March 4th for the annual Spread the Word Day.

That’s so “retarded.” You’re such a “retard.” Retard… one of the few words that physically hurts me when I hear it. My heart aches; my stomach clenches; my eyes sting. It always takes a beat before it registers; did someone really just say that? As a special educator, I especially hated that word. Then 8 years ago, it became personal.