What the ‘R-word’ means to me

To most people, the R-word is just a word. But to me, it is more than that. To me, it is the worst word ever to exist. Every time I hear it, it makes my blood boil. It makes my chest tighten.

For those of you who do not know, I have a younger brother with special needs. His biological father abused him at 4 months old. He is a shaken baby survivor, and as a result of the abuse, he has a traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, severe intellectual disability, is completely blind, cannot sit up, stand, walk, or talk, and he eats through a G-tube. He is on 3 anti-seizure medicines, but sometimes still has breakthrough seizures.

His name is Carter, and he just turned 13. He has the sweetest soul. But when people see him, they aren't always kind. They like to say stuff about him. One time, when my mom took him to Walmart, a little boy was staring at him. His dad turned and looked at him and said, “Stop staring, we don't look at people like that.” People like that? You mean people with special needs who cannot control what happened to them?

The other day, I was with my peers, and we were talking about Carter. Then, five minutes later, an adult said the R-word. I was filled with rage, and on the verge of tears.

More recently, I was playing a game, and someone used the name “Ree Tardy" as their player name; everyone laughed except me. I was hurt. A little while later, I was getting lunch, and a girl said the R-word to someone nearby. The adult close by, instead of helping, did nothing to call out the person for using hurtful language. I was livid.

Why do people think it is OK to use that word? Some people just think there is nothing wrong with using that word. No, some people just lack empathy. Several students at our school have special needs. Several of those people who say the R word walk past them and give them high-fives and act so nice, and then turn around and say the word.

I would encourage you, before you say that horrible word, to think of my brother and all of our peers who walk the halls with us. And remember, it is not just a word.

Serenity Edwards is a high school student in Eastern Iowa.