IN MID-AUGUST, "Tropic Thunder" opened to disability-advocate groups and individuals calling for a boycott of the film. Why? According to critics, the movie portrays people with intellectual disabilities not only humiliatingly but inaccurately.

The controversy focuses on the excessive use of the derogatory word "retard" — used as many as 17 times, and specifically over the "Simple Jack" subplot and the use of the marketing slogans "Once upon a time there was a retard" and "Never go full retard."

The disability community was not consulted in the same manner as other minority groups depicted in the film. Disability advocates did, however, see the film before the premiere and asked for changes before the release. DreamWorks did amend some marketing material, including some of the slogans, bit it refused to recut the film.

Critics also complained the film is harmful in that it perpetuates stereotypes. Films become part of pop culture, and character lines are repeated in other settings. It is already possible to buy T-shirts bearing the crass slogans from the film.

I recently spoke with Student Services Office secretary/registrar Ellen Lindsey, whose son, Joey Lindsey, has Down syndrome, and local disability advocate Jennifer Schrad concerning the controversy surrounding "Tropic Thunder."

Disability advocate Jennifer Schrad with daughter Sophie. Photo courtesy Jennifer Schrad (click to enlarge)

Joey Lindsey during a recent visit to Uni. Gargoyle photo by Katherine Allen (click to enlarge)

What was the response of disability advocates locally to the release of "Tropic Thunder"?

Jennifer Schrad: We wrote letters, sent mass e-mails, made phone calls, and sent press releases. On August the 13th, the opening day nationwide of the release, we staffed an informational table within the lobby of Savoy 16. We were on WCIA Channel 3 the same night and the front page of The News-Gazette the next day. I did an interview on a radio program "Disability Beat" on WEFT. We knew this was a watershed moment, and we intended to take the opportunity to educate the public on the reasons why the "R-word" can be so painful and disrespectful.

Do you think anything positive may come from the film?

Ellen Lindsey: I think that most people are not aware of the hurtful language in the movie. The trailers are misleading. I hope that people will hear of our "protest" and think about the hurtful words and not use them anymore or at least not as often.

JS: That certainly is my hope. We joined the Rally for Respect while we had nationwide attention. Our hope is that the hallways at school will be safer for the disability community and that tough consequences will come with making fun of people with disabilities. I hope for social consequences, too, that we begin to hold each other accountable as a society and that Hollywood will drastically change its behavior.

Do people with intellectual disabilities often appear in films? Can you give examples of other portrayals?

EL: "Life Goes On" had a great actor, Christopher Burke, who came to our Buddy Walk last year. "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" is another example.

JS: Films include "The Other Sister," "Forrest Gump," "Rainman," "The Ringer," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," and "I Am Sam."

How can people be educated about the intellectual disability community?

EL: As you know, I am very open to talking about Joey, my son, and his abilities. I would be happy to talk with anyone. Some questions can be hurtful, but it is better to get the information than to make assumptions that are not correct.

Is there anything Uni students can do besides not spending money to see the film?

EL: Volunteering is a good way to learn more about these issues. We have the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk the 4th of October and can always use volunteers to help with it. Another way is to volunteer with Special Olympics or the precursor to the Special Olympics. We will start getting our little ones ready. It is just basically "playtime" with them, but it disguises the actual "learn a skill." If anyone is interested let me know, and I will send you to the right person. (Ellen can be reached at elindse@uni.illinois.edu.)

I don't think I have to worry about seeing any of the T-shirts or hearing the dreaded R-word in our hallways. I would like to think our students are more aware of hurtful things than most.

JS: Volunteer with local Arc chapters. Take the pledge to ban the R-word from your vocabulary. Consider asking your school principal to be on the lookout for disruptive "Tropic Thunder" merchandise or bullying behavior.

Was "Tropic Thunder" picketed at any of the local theaters?

JS: It was not. We held two rallies called Rally for Respect at the Savoy 16. We did not protest the movie. Instead we staffed a table with materials educating the public on the history of the R-word and the pain it inflicts. We spoke only to moviegoers who approached us, per our agreement with theater management.

How did the theater manager and moviegoers react?

JS: The theater management shared that they had received positive comments from patrons for allowing us to be there.

What is your response to DreamWorks' statement that the film "is a movie-industry spoof" that "aimed its humor not at the disabled but at actors who would do almost anything to get ahead"?

JS: I do not dispute that assertion. However, the way that they make their point is through repeated use of the R-word and by portraying people with intellectual disabilities in an insulting manner. It gives permission to the audiences to use the R-word and to make fun of those who may not be able to defend themselves. How is that funny? People in the intellectual disability communities are not in on the joke. They are the targets of the joke.

Additionally, the story line of actor Robert Downey Jr. in blackface was treated with a lot of care. Stiller is quoted as saying, "It was definitely a constant process of feeling it out." If they had taken any such care with the disability story line, this could have been avoided.

Another defense from DreamWorks is that because the movie is rated R, kids who may not understand the satire won't see it. What is your response to that defense?

JS: First, it is naïve to think that younger audiences won't see it. However, it is the fallout of the film that has me most concerned. You do not need to see the movie in order to pick up on the phrase "Never go full retard." T-shirts have been created with this phrase that have been sold by and to people who have not seen the film. It has become a popular new insult to fling at one another.

Do you think that people are unintentionally hurtful because they don't know any better?

JS: I have found that many people who use the R-word as an insult are unaware of the history of the word. The R-word is hate speech. Many are shocked but understand once it has been explained to them.

As self-advocate Dustin Plunkett said: "I cannot believe a writer could write something like that. It's not the way we want to be portrayed. We have feelings. We don't like the word 'retard.' We are people."

The Champaign County Down Syndrome Network's 2008 Buddy Walk will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Champaign County Fairgrounds in Urbana. For more information, click here.