IMMOKALEE - Immokalee High School (IHS) joined Special Olympics and youth leaders throughout the country in a nationwide campaign to make our world inclusive of all. Founded by two youth leaders in 2009 as Spread the Word to End the Word, the campaign focused its first 10 years on addressing a particularly powerful form of exclusion: the word “retard(ed).” In 2019, the campaign simply became Spread the Word, with a focus on not just the elimination of a word, but on the creation of a new reality: inclusion for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“The ultimate goal is to see our community become a socially inclusive place to learn, work, and live,” shares Kelly Stevenson-Crews, a Modified Curriculum (MC) teacher at IHS. “I’m incredibly proud of the positive strides made here at Immokalee High School.”

On March 3, as the IHS morning announcement bell rang just a bit early, teachers began showing a video in their classrooms focused on one of their own students, Tajha Ilerant. Tajha’s Moment tells the story of a girl who lost both of her parents at an early age, who struggled with an intellectual disability, and who ultimately overcame adversity to begin a journey as an advocate for inclusion. (Those who wish to view the video may visit https://www.generationunified.org/videos/tajhas-moment/.) Upon witnessing the story of their classmate, students began to sign the online pledge in hopes of creating a more inclusive world.

Special Olympics athletes and partners were also on hand that day during physical education classes to hand out t-shirts, bracelets, and kindness cards. As each period began, a new set of students walked the outdoor track - music blasting from the football press box - and stopped at tables to sign posters. They were joined by fellow students from across the road as MC students from Immokalee Middle School were invited to walk the track alongside their older peers.

“We always include our middle school students in the events we have!” exclaims Stevenson-Crews. “It creates a welcoming transition for all students coming to the high school. It also provides an opportunity for friendships to begin and partners to meet the upcoming freshmen.”

To learn more about Spread the Word, or to take the pledge, please visit www.r-word.org.