"They can't stand up for themselves, so we're going to." says Junior, Tyler Wright.

Warren County students are going to stand up for people with special needs.

"If we get everyone in the school to sign the pledge, we will be the first school in Virginia to have an entire school sign the pledge, not to say the "R" word," says Junior, Dylan Ross.

For the first time, Warren County High School is having a disabilities awareness week. They are all signing a banner promising not to say the word "retarded". It all started because one of their football coaches has a daughter with down syndrome.

"I didn't want to just do down syndrome, because I thought that was kind of selfish if I only did it in that area. So, I just wanted to incorporate all disabilities," says Coach Brandon Wakefield.

Jontae Rolins says he doesn't use the word to begin with. "I mean, Coach Wake's daughter, every time I see her, it just makes me think she's not really different. So, there is no reason to say the word."

Now, the students are teaching each other a lesson.

"You go up to somebody, you ask them (to sign the pledge) and you explain what it's about, and they're all for it," says Wright.

These guys say, having different needs, doesn't necessarily make you different. "They like to joke and laugh and they walk with us in the hallways. They're good people and have a sweet heart and I don't understand why people have to make fun of them," says Ross.

"It hurts people. Not just the kids with down syndrome or special abilities, but it hurts the parents, it hurts Coach Wake, it hurts other people," Rolins says.

The lesson Coach Wakefield is teaching them, is one that will stay with them forever. "Be aware of the people that might be special in one way or another, because what they have is just a characteristic of them, it's not who they are."