FARMINGTON — Participants in the third annual Spread the Word to End the Word on Wednesday had a message: “Words hurt, end use of the R-word.”

A campaign website seeks pledges from people promising to stop using the word “retard.” People can read more information, take the pledge and show their respect at www.r-word.org, said Rick Dorian, executive director of Life Enrichment Advancing People, or LEAP.

For disability advocates and participants at Wednesday’s event at the University of Maine at Farmington, several voiced messages of hurt and shame felt when they were labeled for their disability and not accepted as a person.

“People cannot use racial words. Why use the R-word? I’m angry that you think it is OK,” Jon McGovern of Bangor said.

As chairman of the Maine Speaking Up For Us board, McGovern told the gathering that using the R-word is a “judgment that makes us feel bad. Labels are for cans but not people.”

As advocates for the disabled, Speaking Up For Us is committed to working on ending the use of the word, he said.

Speak Up For Us groups started in 1993 by Paige Barton who was misdiagnosed and spent 15 years institutionalized. Those 15 years were taken away by a label, McGovern said. She went on to receive her high school equivalency diploma and graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington. She led others to become advocates and to speak up for their rights, he said.

“We all have disabilities. We’re all human beings. It’s very important that you know who you are and don’t let anyone tell you different. You’re all special,” Carol Gordon of Mexico said. She came with others from the Rumford area Hope Association group homes.

“The R-word needs to disappear. Life is too short to have somebody call you a retard,” Michelle Harvey of Farmington said while recounting her road from meningitis to a life of independence. “I feel very hurt when people in the community and even caseworkers are not respecting me for who I am.”

“Last year you moved me,” state Sen. Tom Saviello told the gathering. “I made the pledge and haven’t used the R-word.”

Everyone wants to be treated respectfully, Dorian said.

“Words have meaning and power. Words can hurt or words can heal,” he added.

On March 2, supporters across the United States and around the world coordinated similar pledge drives and educational opportunities through Spread the Word to End the Word. The pledge is available at www.r-word.org

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