Do you see me?

For this month I have decided to include my third speech from Toastmasters and a poem I have created based on an experience I had this month.  Dr.  Dr.  I know you see this metal, but do you see ME?  I know I am small, but do you see ME? I know I might look like a complicated case, but out of this chair I am just a person like you.   Now do you see Me? I want the best for ME. I work like you work. Now do you see ME? I went to school like you did. Now do you see ME?  I have a family like you.  Now do you see Me?  I have friends like you.  Now do you see Me?  Do you see Jessica Laurel Martin?



the word of the day.


“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”



How many of you remember this phrase?



How many of you believe that words can’t hurt you?



·   If I mention the “F” word, how many of you know to what
4-letter word I’m referring?

·   If I mention the “N” word, how many of you know to what
6-letter word I’m referring?



·   If I mention the “R” word, how many of you know to what
6-letter word I’m referring?



All too often on social networks like Twitter the “R” word is too frequently used without thinking of how hurtful it might be to a reader.

--Body --

By now I hope I have piqued your curiosity as to what the “R” word is.    It is “retard”.



Forty years ago it was “politically correct” to refer to people who were intellectually or developmentally challenged as being “retarded”,
but not anymore.



Unfortunately that 6-letter “R” word is still being used.

According to the website thesocialchallenge.org, people use the “R” word more than 25,000 times daily in just tweets.



The “R” word is very degrading to individuals who live daily with an intellectual or developmental disability, and to their families.



Individuals registered on thesocialchallenge.org website can combat the “R” word by monitoring its usage in Tweets then respond with a comment to get them to stop using it.

This “confrontational” method has been effective because tweets containing the “R” word have decreased.

---- Closing ----

What can YOU do to purge the use of the “R” word?

1.     First, work at trying to eliminate the “R” word from your own vocabulary!

2.    Second, join me ; on thesocialchallenge.org website to challenge tweets containing the “R” word.

3.    Third, as Corey Smith’s song title suggests: “Be the Change and Make a Difference” ; for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities!

Finally, I’d like to reemphasize that, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, and the “R” word will ALWAYS hurt.”
Thank you for seeing me for just  me!
-Jessi