Special Olympics Campaign Fights Use of Word

Special Olympics is kicking off a youth-led campaign stretching from Florida to Alaska to end the derogatory use of the word "retard."

Under the "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign beginning Tuesday, schools and universities plan to hold rallies and sign pledges to eliminate using the word that organizers say is hurtful to people with intellectual disabilities.

Kirsten Suto Seckler, director of global marketing and awareness for Special Olympics, says the group hopes the campaign sparks a national dialogue about the impact of the word on people with mental disabilities and their families.