LAPLACE — Throughout the month of September different sites will be hosting “Art of Respect” events.

According to Carlos Amos, developmental disabilities assistant director for South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority, youths and adults with and without developmental disabilities created the Art of Respect program, which is intended to engage schools, organizations and communities to reflect on what the words “acceptance,” “inclusion,” “unity,” “friendship” and “respect” mean to them.

People involved in the program want to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word and to celebrate the gifts and friendship residents who live with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities, Amos said.

“Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities,” Amos said. “However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the words ‘retard’ and ‘retarded.’”

Throughout the month of September SCLHSA and other groups will be hosting Art of Respect events throughout different parishes.

This year’s event in St. John the Baptist Parish will be held starting at 9 a.m. today and ending at noon at the ARC of St. John at 101 Bamboo Road in LaPlace.

“At each of the events, individuals will be creating art projects that will help the general public understand and celebrate ‘Art of Respect,’” Amos said. “Following the event, a local community artist will assess all of the artwork, select pieces for individual display and use the other artwork to create a large composite piece of art that will be displayed at our local communities for ‘Art of Respect’ shows and receptions.”

The theme this year is ‘Superheroes are Different! Our Differences are our Superpower!’

“Individuals with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities contribute to the community in a positive way, and they deserve nothing less than dignity and respect,” Amos said.

After all of the events are finished, there will be a reception at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the   Destrehan Library. Some artwork will be on display, and participants will receive a certificate.

To show more support, St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom declared Sept. 22 Art of Respect Day.

“The ‘Art of Respect’ signifies the desire to show respect for all people, regardless of their differences,” Robottom said. “We are all born with gifts and talents, we need to look for them in others.”

Robottom hopes the community acknowledges the need to change the culture and eliminate words and practices that are offensive to others.

— By Raquel Derganz Baker