Students across country take pledge to stop using ‘R-word'

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - There are so many words we've managed to banish from our vocabulary, racially-insensitive ones, words that are offensive to the gay community, and many more. 

But one that seems to hang on is the r-word: "retard."

Special Olympics is working to change that with "R-Word Day," when students take pledges to use more respectful language.

Sue Hoyer, a teacher and Special Olympics coach from Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, Eddie Sitzman, a Special Olympics Illinois athlete, and Amaya Wright, a Project Unify participant, joined us LIVE on GDC to talk more about the effort.