Titusville High School hosted Florida’s largest Spread the Word event ever this past March! Kim Coachman, a ten-year veteran faculty advisor and ESE teacher for Best Buddies, ensured this year’s event was as inclusive as possible and had over 100 attendees at its Spread the Word event.

As an ESE teacher at Titusville High School for over 23 years, Ms. Coachman is no stranger to the hurt it causes her students and others when people use derogatory language referring to our friends with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Specifically, Kim relayed, “Spread the Word is important to me because it not only spreads inclusion for our Buddies with IDD, but it celebrates diversity and encourages acceptance, which is crucial for teenagers on a high school campus.”

What is the Spread the Word Campaign?

People with intellectual disabilities still face exclusion, social isolation, and social abuse in schools, workplaces, and communities. This prevents us all from building truly inclusive societal structures, where we can learn and grow together. To drive change and help create a more inclusive society, Spread the Word to End the Word was founded in 2009 by college students Soeren Palumbo (Notre Dame 2011) and Tim Shriver (Yale 2011).

The campaign Spread the Word, as part of Special Olympics and supported by Best Buddies and our partners, is aimed at showcasing the impact of inclusive language and actions so that the discrimination of people with intellectual disabilities can come to an end. The most exciting part about the Spread the Word campaign is that it’s led and continuously reimagined by our youth activists. Their efforts are designed to rally schools, organizations, and communities to commit to the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by taking the Pledge.

Thanks to Kim Coachman, students and community members in Titusville, the path to inclusivity by eliminating hurtful language is alive and well. In addition to hosting this event for the past ten (10) years, this is the sixth (6) year including the Best Buddies Andrew Jackson Middle School Chapter, local first responders such as the Titusville Police Department, Titusville Fire Department, Brevard County Sheriff’s Department and other influential health organizations like Palm point and St. Francis Pediatric Care Team. From students to staff participating in games, partaking in activities, and wearing their blue Best Buddies T-Shirts, the spirit of inclusion was alive and well. Even Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell stopped by to participate in the fun and help spread awareness.

Will you sign the Pledge with Kim and us? Sign the pledge and get more information on Spread the Word by visiting the website.