A PRINCE and a mayor were just two major names supporting a pledge to never use the word 'retard'.
Hammersmith and Fulham mayor, Frances Stainton, accompanied Prince Mohsin Ali Khan of Hyderabad, India, to sign the r-word campaign on June 7 as part of disability equality week at the Hammersmith Campus of Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College.
The global movement is supported by learning disability charity Mencap and looks to discourage the use of the offensive word.
Speaking to staff and students at the college, Mrs Stainton, said: “I believe, as you do, in education for all and I commend your efforts as an institution to focus on the individual and honour the right to education.
“I am proud to add my signature to the Mencap r-word campaign. This offensive word may have found wider acceptance in recent years but movements such as the r-word campaign genuinely encourage people to reassess casual language and consider the potential harm words can cause.”
The event marked the end of a week of the banner with signatures from staff, students and special guests making its way around each of the college’s campuses.
Earlier in the week, the Ealing campus hosted Ty Glaser from medical drama, Holby City, as he signed the pledge to never use the r-word.
There was also a private screening of the film, Aktion T4 Awareness Project, which was produced by Berge Kanikanian, from Mencap and explores the treatment of people with learning disabilities during the Holocaust. The film is to be officially screened in the House of Commons on June 18.
