The Current Do you use the R word?
Apr 2, 2026
Al Etmanski, a parent advocate for disability rights, and Liz Etmanski, an artist with Down syndrome who paints and writes, join to discuss stigma and advocacy. They explore how a harmful slur resurfaces in public life. They talk about youth normalization, historical roots in eugenics, campaigns pushing back, and why leaders’ language matters.
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Living Independently And Facing The R Word
- Liz Etmanski says she has Down syndrome and has lived on her own for 20 years, calling her parents when she needs help.
- She describes being called the R word in school as like having the wind knocked out of you, a painful attack on the heart that she handled herself before telling family.
Self Advocacy Beats Outside Representation
- Al Etmanski emphasizes self-advocacy: people with disabilities must speak for themselves to dismantle stigma.
- He frames inclusion as removing barriers so everyone can contribute and be visible rather than represented by others.
The R Word Is Rooted In Eugenics History
- The R word stems from early 1900s eugenics and a falsified psychologist study that categorized people by intelligence and influenced Nazi policy.
- That pseudo-science led to horrific outcomes including the murder of over 300,000 people with disabilities in Germany as a prelude to wider genocide.