“Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me!” You are probably all familiar with that ridiculous rhyme that is thrown about as if it is some sort of protective device against verbal bullying.  Name calling, slurs, and insults do hurt, of course, and people with disabilities and challenges have almost certainly had their share of such experiences. Unfortunately, sports do not have a long history of promoting acceptance, inclusion, or recognizing the value of special needs athletes. The combination of intolerance and exclusion tends to encourage athletes to use harsh and judgmental language to ridicule the performances of an athlete that does not measure up to a particular standard.