Words Matter
Words should be used with respect to human beings, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Words should never be used to discriminate or dehumanize individuals.
Written By Jessica Renner and Shawn Latham from Self-Advocates In Leadership
Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, on the floor of the Washington State Senate, Senator Leonard Christian from the 4th District in Spokane used the R-word while speaking on HB 1390, the Community Protection Bill. The R word has been used over the years to put down and diminish the value of people with disabilities, especially those with intellectual disabilities. In the past, students, teachers, doctors, therapists, community members, and even family members have used the R word in anger or to humiliate those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Self-advocates from across the State are disgusted with not only Senator Christian’s comments on the Senate Floor but his ongoing refusal to apologize for the R-word comment in local newspapers. One self-advocate from Spokane stated that while his comment was horrible to hear, unfortunately, the comment is not surprising because there had been an uptick in people using discriminatory language lately in the Spokane area.
Starting in 2010, Self Advocates in Leadership, and a coalition of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who work on public policy at the State Level, helped to pass three respectful language bills: HB 2663 in 2004, HB 1835 in 2009, and HB 2490 in 2010. These bills remove the R-word and other outdated, disrespectful language from all past, present, and future State laws and documents. In particular, HB 1835 changed any reference to the “MR-words” to intellectual disability. Senator Christian is out of step with the move toward respectful language, as these three bills reflect.
We feel that Senator Christian’s words were not only out of line because of his use of the R-word, but his ableist remarks about people with I/DD being too vulnerable to understand what is going on show us that we still have individuals who think of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as children who can’t make decisions for themselves in their lives.
The SAIL Coalition believes the R-word is harmful not because people are “too sensitive,” but because it carries decades of bullying, exclusion, and dehumanization. Ending its use is a small but powerful step toward building a society where people with disabilities are treated with the dignity, respect, and belonging they deserve.
- It Is a Slur That Dehumanizes People
- It Fuels Bullying and Social Exclusion
- It Undermines the Dignity and Rights of People with Disabilities
- Leaders Should Model Respect
In 2004, all legislators agreed that the R word shouldn’t be used when the respectful language bill was passed. We do not want to go backwards in time to a place where the R Word was used repeatedly.
It is due time that all of us, including our State Legislators, fully understand how hurtful the R-word is and commit never to use it again.
It is time that the intellectual and developmental disability community as a whole works together to educate lawmakers and community members that using the R-word is hurtful and not okay to use at any time.
You may read about the incident in these three news articles.
If you are interested in signing on to a letter that is going to Senate Leadership. You can read the letter and sign on as an individual, or as your organization here.
