Question

2. Visit the website of an organization dealing with sport for persons with disabilities. Summarize what you learn.

3. Provide a brief overview of the Special Olympics (state and local Special Olympics program). What is the role of a professional working in the Special Olympics?

Answer 1

2. https://www.disabledsportsusa.org

Disabled Sports USA’s mission is to provide national leadership and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness through participation in community sports, recreation, and educational programs.

Vision

“every person, regardless of ability, has an equal opportunity to participate in sports and recreation in their community.”

• Since 1967, Disabled Sports USA has focused on one goal: To improve the lives of wounded warriors, youth and adults with disabilities by providing sports and recreation opportunities.

• Disabilities include those with visual impairments, amputations, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, head injury, cerebral palsy, other neuromuscular/orthopedic conditions, autism and related intellectual disabilities.

• Motto: “If I can do this, I can do anything!”

• The unique structure as a community-based chapter network allows Disabled Sports USA to reach people across the country, through a grassroots approach that supports local chapters in identifying the needs of the communities they serve.

• Each year through a nationwide network, serve over 70,000 youth, wounded warriors and adults through a nationwide network of over 135 community-based chapters in more than 40 states nationwide. Over 50 different sports are offered, including alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, kayaking, water skiing, sailing, scuba, surfing, rafting, outrigger canoeing, fishing, hiking, golf, athletics, archery, cycling, running/wheeling, rock climbing, equestrian and others.

3.

• Special Olympics is a global organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion among people with and without intellectual disabilities. We unleash the power of the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world.
• Through year-round sports, health, education and community building, we change the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in 172 countries. We are providing opportunities and helping fight the intolerance, injustice, inactivity and social isolation faced by our 4.9 million athletes.
• Special Olympics competitions are held every day, all around the world—including local, national and regional competitions, adding up to more than 100,000 events a year. Like the International Paralympic Committee, the Special Olympics organization is recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
• For example; The mission of Special Olympics Texas is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
• Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Those activities give them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship.

The role of a professional working in the Special Olympics

• Through programming in sports, health, education and community building,is tackling the inactivity, stigma, isolation, and injustice that people with intellectual disabilities (ID) face.
• Goes far beyond sports events, driving social change that enables full social participation for people with Intellectual disabilities.
• Deliver, high- quality training and competition in an inclusive culture through Unified Sports which allows for people with and without intellectual disabilities to play on the same field.