Basketball = Fun + Friendship

The following blog post comes from Garret Lee, a Special Olympics Colorado volunteer & student at the University of Denver. 

The past 5 weeks, I have had the privilege to be the lead volunteer for the Red Shirt Rookies* program at Summit Elementary School in the Cherry Creek School District. I came into Summit with plans to implement a nearly identical program to that of my Unified Sports team at Heritage High School, but quickly learned that the Red Shirt Rookies program was different. In fact, all levels of Project Unify are different, and each school is unique, which is part of the reason the program is so powerful.

While at first, the large number of Rookies was hard to manage, my group of volunteers and I grew to love the program’s flexibility. No matter what activities we had the athletes and partners do, they approached it with a smile on their face. Obviously, shooting the basketball was most of the kids’ favorite part. It was my favorite too, because I saw the most improvement. Seeing the smiles on kids’ faces that could barely shoot the ball but learned to make a basket was unforgettable.

While observing the skill development was exciting, the most inspirational part of the program for me was watching the growth in the children involved. At first, it was very apparent that many of the special needs athletes were uncomfortable around the partners, and the partners weren’t too open to be friends with the athletes. However as time went on, we saw friendships develop across the boundaries simply through passing a basketball… that was incredible. By the final cheer on the last practice, it was very apparent that many of these boundaries between the Rookies had been broken down and all of the kids felt comfortable around each other. It is inspiring to see that these children will soon be our leaders, and they will be doing it together. All of my volunteers and I are excited to see the upcoming boundaries that can be broken down in the spring, when this group of amazing Red Shirt Rookies hit the soccer pitch.

*Red Shirt Rookies is an after school basketball skills program for students with and without intellectual disabilities in grades K – 5. The young students work with local volunteers to practice their basketball skills and have fun getting to know their peers.

Unified Sports at World Games

Yesterday, five youth leaders from the Global Youth Activation Summit had the opportunity to participate in the Floor Hockey Unified Sports Experience. The event was a great chance for our youth leaders to show off their sports skills and have fun with some amazing Special Olympics supporters!! Unified Sports Experience events pair Special Olympics athletes with partners, celebrities and supporters in an exhibition match that helps promote the importance of Unified Sports within Special Olympics.

Abraham Moreno and Daniel Giordani of Special Olympics Southern California were two of the lucky young people selected to play in the game. 

“My experience playing in the Unified Sports Floor Hockey Game was incredible. I am glad to be selected to play in that game at the world’s grand stage at the World Winter Games. I totally love to play floor hockey, I love it very much and I wish I could play it every single day. I was glad to play floor hockey again for the first time in two months. It was a great feeling playing it again.

The officials gave us uniforms to wear and there were four teams. I was on the blue team. We played two games. I scored two goals in the first game. We had a big lead in the first half of the game, then the other team caught up to tie the score 6-6. In the last minute, my team was able to break the tie and win the game. In the second game, it was for the championship, winner against winter. There were celebrities that played and they were pretty tall. We won the game by five and got first place.

I was glad that I was able to play in this game and I had a great time.”

- Abraham Moreno, athlete

Abraham Moreno faces off against former NBA star Sam Perkins in the Floor Hockey Unified Sports Experience

“My Unified Sports Experience was a very enjoyable one. I played floor hockey. Although we lost both games, I bonded with all of my teammates and we had a blast! I didn’t realize how much fun floor hockey could be. It was such an amazing experience meeting so many people of different races, genders and abilities. While participants in Unified Sports, all of our difference seemed to be non-existent and we were just out there having a good time and enjoying each other’s company.

Unified Sports really bring out the true meaning of Special Olympics: love, acceptance and tolerance.

It was amazing.”

- Daniel Giordani, partner

Friendship through Golf

The following post comes from Michael H, a High School junior and Unified Partner. Michael and Jason, a Special Olympics athlete, recently competed in the Unified Sports division of the Special Olympics North America Golf Invitational Tournament.

I have had some experience in volunteering in the past.  My mom has always encouraged (okay, pressured) me to do different forms of volunteering, but my experience with the Unified Partners and Special Olympics has been a wholly different experience.

I first joined the program because an email had been forwarded to all fall sports athletes looking for volunteers.  At the time, I was participating in the off-season baseball camps at my high school.  When my mom asked if I was interested in playing golf as a volunteer – I replied yes, because I love golf and I thought it would be a really good experience to help.

I really had no idea what to expect from the program as I had never heard of the program or spoken with anyone who had participated before.  I showed up at the first practice at the golf course certain that I would not know a soul.  While still in the parking lot unloading my clubs, I recognized a kid from my grade named Jason.  I had recognized Jason from my freshman year Health/PE class and he often sat at the same lunch table with me and my friends, but quite honestly, we really did not know each other.  I soon found out that Jason was one of the athletes looking for a partner and we started our partnership on the golf course that day.

We have partnered in multiple tournaments including the National Special Olympics Golf Tournament in Phoenix last month where we won the silver medal in our flight.

In the beginning, had anyone asked why, I would have said I was volunteering to help others.  Over a year later, I can honestly say, the experience with the Unified Partners Special Olympics has ultimately helped me.  The people in the program – from our director, our coach, Jason’s family and all of the athletes and volunteers I have met – have been so incredible.

Through my stories about the experience, I have recently recruited some friends to join me in the program. I have enjoyed the practices, the tournaments and the special events (like our recent Arizona Special Olympics Breakfast of Champions)…but seeing the smile on Jason’s face and knowing he too is enjoying himself is the best part of it all.

When my mom talked about how volunteering was good for the soul, I always assumed it was one of her silly attempts to get me to do something I did not really want to do.  Now I can truly relate to Booker T. Washington’s famous quote: “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else”.

The Power of Friendship

William and Emily of Special Olympics Missouri know firsthand the true power of unified sports — friendship!

My name is William Reese, I am 16 and am a partner with Special Olympics at my school, Warrenton High School in Warrenton, Missouri.

What I really like about Unified Sports are all the opportunities I have been given.  I am a member of the Youth Activation Committee (YAC) and through YAC I have done a lot of awesome things.  We have had a lot of training on promoting unified sports and how to promote it in our school.  I have been able to go to Mizzou and promote Spreading the Word to End the Word. I am going this summer to volunteer at sports camp and in just two weeks I am going with my friend Emily Carroll and some other people to Denver Colorado for a Unified Sports workshop.

Through all of the things I have had the opportunity to do with Unified Sports, the most important are the friendships I have been able to build.  I have met Emily and we team up a lot for YAC events, and when she gets nervous, I am there to help her.

Being a leader
This last weekend at a unified basketball game we played a team that was younger than our high school team, so we did not play as aggressively as we normally would.  All of the partners were able to talk with our teammates about why we were not going to play as aggressively as we usually do. You could see how much it meant to the athletes on the other team and it was a great feeling, every time the other team scored we cheered just like with our own teammates!  As partner we were there to lead our teammates, but the athletes were also given the opportunity to be leaders.  Being a part of Special Olympics Unified Sports really teaches you to be a true team player!

My friend Emily
My friend Emily Carroll is 15 and has been a Special Olympics athlete at in our school district since she was 8.  What Emily likes about Special Olympics Unified Sports are “all of my friends”.  Emily is a member of YAC and she was really excited about going to Mizzou to promote Spread the Word to End the Word, what she really liked was “spending the day with James Franklin, her friend”.  James is a first string quarterback for Mizzou and he was there volunteering his time!

Emily has made a lot of friends through unified sports and she has become much more outgoing, I see her coming out of her shell more all the time!  She even went to the Torch Run Kickoff Conference a few months ago to introduce some speakers.  When I heard Emily was going to do this I was amazed because she gets so nervous, but she did an amazing job!

The end that is not the end…
Emily and I both really enjoy unified sports, it has changed us both so much and it is something we will both be participating in for a really long time!

I am a Unified Partner

We continue this month’s focus on Unified Sports with a blog from Unified Partner (and National Youth Activation Committee member) Courtney Neil – she shares her personal story about the benefit of Unified Sports participation.

Like any kid, I was brought up in a world of sports that centered on winning, competition, and giving it your all, but something that set my sporting experiences apart from the rest is my participation with Special Olympics.

When I first tell people about my involvement with the group, it usually follows with a double take, or a question like “Oh, what problems do you have?” but I participate a little differently:

I am a Unified Partner. 

I have competed with Special Olympics for 11 years and absolutely love it. I compete alongside my older sister Alyssa who is much more than my teammate.  She’s my inspiration and my daily reminder to never take anything at face value.  Unified Sports have definitely helped me in that as well.

Unified Sports puts individuals with and without disabilities together on teams to compete in various sports.  It shows you that a person’s ability level has nothing to do with their ability to play a sport and do it well.  It teaches compassion and understanding in a way that can’t happen in any other atmosphere.  You and your teammates are working as a team to accomplish something, and like any other sports team, you build a positive relationship that’s unlike any other.  You learn to give people the chance to prove themselves without judging them right off the bat and learning to trust a person and their skills without reservations.

Being involved in such an amazing organization and just playing sports has opened up a world of opportunity for me.  I have been exposed to all different types of people that I may not have met otherwise and made real friendships that will withstand anything.  Unified Sports has brought me so much closer to my sister and really helped me understand her and where she’s coming from.

If we weren’t involved with our state Special Olympic Program, I know we wouldn’t be as close as we are right now, and we have Special Olympics to thank for that.

Let Your Sparkle Shine!

Abby Rios is captain of the cheerleading squad at Clemens High School in Texas. As a sophomore she started an inclusive cheerleading team called the Buffalo Sparklers to include students with intellectual disabilities in her school. Below is an excerpt from a college application essay in which she showcases the importance of inclusion in schools. She was recently featured on the local news for her amazing contributions to Clemens High School. Abby is an inspiring youth leader!

During my sophomore year, a very special bridge was built. As football season came to an end, so did the pressure and chaos. Every day seemed a little bit slower, and everyone seemed to be in a constant exhale. No one could ignore the change in the atmosphere, whether it be the warmer clothes, the skittering leaves across the pavement, or the sound of basketballs echoing from the gym’s open doors.

My friend Sabrina and I were walking from the parking lot during our cheerleading period, and decided to stop. We didn’t know what to expect, but we were happy with anything. In we walk, with our faces smiling and cold, into the Adaptive P.E. Class. We smile even more, if that was possible, and wave at our classmates. With that friendly wave and some short greetings, we are swept into a game of basketball that I will remember for the rest of my life.

A lot happened that day. No mercy was shown on either side, and we were utterly demolished in the epic battle. Yet another encounter, and perhaps the most important one, would consist of more basketball with the boys, and a cheer taught to the girls. “I want to try out for cheerleading,” Shawnie said, “I would be a good cheerleader.”

And she would. She would evoke a response, she would make people smile, and isn’t that our goal? To make people proud to be a Buffalo? What was preventing Shawnie and the other girls from being cheerleaders?

Lightbulb… Let’s help them. If they want to be cheerleaders, let’s make it happen.

Of course, it was more paperwork and approval than anything, but when you’re working with a group as worth it as they are, the process seems less demanding. It also helped when I caught wind of an organization called the Sparkle Effect, which was a program started by two high schoolers in Indiana, and was exactly what I wanted to be a part of. They had ideas and support systems that would make the program more appealing to administrators and parents. Eventually, by my junior year, we were able to start The Buffalo Sparklers.

That year was fabulous, and even though we hadn’t gotten approval or uniforms until after the football and basketball seasons were ending, we got to make our first appearance at the Special Olympics Basketball Tournament at Roosevelt high school. The girls looked beautiful in confidence. They looked even better in the spotlight of all of the parents’, players’, and volunteers’ smiles. They became different people, and I was right when I thought that they would make great cheerleaders. We cheered for every team, and I was proud to have had the opportunity to be a part of them.

This year, I can’t wait to see the crowds’ faces when they get to see what our school is really all about. I think they will appreciate the diversity that we represent, and will be as proud as I am to be a Buffalo.

When observing from the sidelines, I had always felt bad for them, but anyone who has ever interacted with kids or adults with special needs will not only develop a love for them, but also a respect, and a fascination.  I was wrong, and ignorant, to feel any other way. Just because they are different, doesn’t mean that they’re any more different than a boy is to a girl, or a cheerleader is to an honors student. There are more similarities than differences, but only the differences are perceived by most people.

In a way, they are the best people. They are a new kind of teacher. These kids taught me how to be patient, and honest. They lead by example, and they follow the right people, for the right reasons.

Thank You, Mrs. Shriver

The following is another reflection from Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day and Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play, written by Special Olympics Colorado youth leader Kaitlyn Smith.

Standing on the National Mall in Washington DC, I take a minute to step back and let it all soak in. All around me are children of all abilities smiling, playing sports, and having a great time playing together. The more I watch, the more I realize that this is it, this is Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s vision, and this is her victory!

On September 24th, I not only had the opportunity to celebrate Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s life in Washington DC, but I got to do so in conjunction with the Nickelodeon Worldwide Day of Play. All day I got to help and witness children with and without disabilities playing sports, and doing so with unity and respect for each other. Throughout the day I saw the amazing work of Eunice Kennedy Shriver having an impact on our world.

During the event, a woman came up to me and asked me who Eunice Kennedy Shriver was; however, that question is not one that could be answered easily. Yes, she is the woman that started the worldwide movement of Special Olympics from a summer camp in her backyard, but she did so much more than that… she changed the world. The more I attempted to answer her question, the more I started to realize that it is not something that can be answered in words.

When you have the opportunity to watch a basketball game that has individuals with and without disabilities playing together; that is thanks to Eunice Kennedy Shriver. When you see someone without a disability be friends with someone that has an intellectual disability; that is thanks to Eunice Kennedy Shriver. When you can see individuals with disabilities smile with success because they were given a chance; that is thanks to Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s life cannot be adequately explained in words. You need to see the smiles on the athlete’s faces, the strength in every kick, and the joy of every win. Mrs. Shriver’s life and legacy lives on through all of the athletes of Special Olympics.

It was such an honor to be able to be in Washington DC to celebrate the life of such an incredible lady. Mrs. Shriver has touched the lives of millions of athletes, and more to come. She went against all odds, touched the lives of a neglected population, and completely changed the mind-set of the world. Her life, legacy, and passion will live on forever.

Special Olympics Celebrates Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day & Worldwide Day of Play

This Saturday, September 24^th is the 2^nd Annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (aka EKS Day), which honors the amazing and inspirational founder of Special Olympics. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was a trail blazing leader who broke down barriers to improve the lives of millions of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Each year on the 4^th Saturday in September events of unity and acceptance around the world will celebrate the vision, commitment and achievements of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her tradition of making a difference. The theme for this year’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day is Play Unified to Live Unified.

Learn more about Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

This year we’re commemorating the amazing impact of Eunice Kennedy Shriver by partnering with Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play and CELEBRATING AN ENTIRE DAY DEDICATED TO ACTIVE PLAY!!

You and your family are invited to Washington, DC for a day
of family-friendly activities, sports & entertainment!

Saturday September 24, 2011
10 am – 4 pm
The Ellipse at the National Mall

Since we love to play (especially when we play UNIFIED), we’ll be at The Ellipse on The National Mall in Washington, DC all-day hosting a Unity Dance Party, demonstrating the amazing skills of our Special Olympics athletes in floor hockey and tennis and remembering the impact of Special Olympics’ founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Need another reason to come? Check out this fun video featuring some of Nick’s biggest stars and a certain First Lady! They’ll be there, so come join in the fun! (Plus, some big sports stars, like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Abby Wambach and Damien Woody, will be there, so you won’t want to miss it!)

So if you’re in the Washington, DC area on September 24, grab your friends and family and head to the National Mall for a fun-filled day of play! Plus, stop by the Special Olympics Project UNIFY tent and mention you read this blog post and we’ll give you a SWEET Project UNIFY prize!

Don’t fret if you’re not in the DC area – there are still tons of ways to get involved with Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day and Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play:

• Host a Worldwide Day of Play Unity Dance Party in your hometown and invite people of all abilities to come celebrate, get active and dance together!
• Download the Nickelodeon Playbook and host your own Worldwide Day of Play event
• Find a local Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day event near you or start your own event with the help of these great EKS Day resources
• Help spread the word about Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day and donate your Facebook status on Saturday September 24 (check out our Social Media Materials for more ways to promote EKS Day through your social network):

Today I’m playing unified to live unified in celebration of Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day and Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play. Join me, be a fan of @Special Olympics and let’s get out and play! http://www.eksday.org