The R-word is back. But why?

Enlarge this image The R-word is back. But why? Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Getty Images The R-word is back. But why? Getty Images Over the past few years, Brittany has noticed the resurgence of the R-word – a word that otherwise left the cultural lexicon. And while that’s troubling in and of itself, its return may also have larger implications that affect policy, culture, and how we treat each other. Disability advocate Imani Barbarin joins the show to break down how ableism can take root in casual conversation, and why words matter. Support public media and receive ad-free listening & bonus content. Join NPR+ today. Sponsor Message This episode was produced by Alexis Williams. It was edited by Neena Pathak. Our Supervising Producer is Barton Girdwood. Our Executive Producer is Veralyn Williams. Our VP of Programming is Yolanda Sangweni.