A new global campaign is calling on people to leave the R-word in the past.

Launched ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, Just Evolve highlights a simple idea. Society has already moved on from harmful and outdated behaviors, so our language should evolve too.

In the campaign video, actor Noah Matthews Matofsky compares the continued use of the word to practices we have long abandoned, like washing clothes with urine.

The message is made clear. Just because something was once common does not mean it belongs today.

Advocates say the issue goes beyond one word. Using disability as an insult reinforces stereotypes and contributes to exclusion, even when it is not aimed at a specific person.

Groups like the National Down Syndrome Society and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation support the campaign and stress that respectful language helps build a more inclusive world.

“The language we use matters,” says Kandi Pickard, CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society. “Words shape how people are perceived and valued, and choosing respectful language is an important step in building a more inclusive society.”

This article has information from Ad of the World and Disability Scoop.