Special Olympics Experiences????

[tinkslite]

My DD, nearly 16, is having a difficult time with the fact that her NT brother is a successful competitive athlete. She has repeatedly tried several sports, but hits a low glass ceiling (her own, based on ability levels/autism), then gets frustrated and quits, feeling even worse. She also battles with weight issues.
She is currently swimming with a regular swim team, surrounded by NTs, but of course her ability level places her swimming with 9-12 year old beginning team swimmers. Frustration.
A friend (special ed teacher) suggested Special Olympics, and we are hoping to try it. We are even attending the opening ceremonies for Summer Games (Nevada) tomorrow. BUT of course this means a CHANGE of habits/routine and daughter is hesitant (expected/predictable).
Do any of you have positive experiences to share? Photos of competitions? Any help in this area would be good....
We are also looking at a Special Needs Divison All Star Cheerleading Team in our area. We have read about them in other locations, but this is the first time it will be offered here. Any thoughts/experiences on that????
My deep thanks for any input.

 

[LMC]

My DS participates in Special Olympics but not swimming. (He hates water!) He plays golf. He did not like track and field (took a break from golf and did it one year) so he returned to golf. He does not know how the other competitors are doing on the course and only knows how he did when they have the awards ceremony. I just tell him to improve his score each time. He loves doing this, and sees the same people year after year and they have meals together and hang out. Unfortunately our school system and community does not participate in S.O. so we do this on our own so he is the only one from our county when we go to state games. But he still loves it!
They also have gymnastics. I think they do floor routines only. THey have bowling, bocce ball, horseback riding; lots of things. Some areas also have winter games so the athletes can compete twice per year but in Alabama we only have summer games.

 

[tinkslite]

Swimming, Track, soccer (she's somewhat interested in this), softball, bowling, bocce ball (no idea what this is, btw), basketball, hmm I think that's it....
she loves to swim, but that is ending this weekend. Soccer starts soon, so we'll see.

 

[tinkslite]

I was really hoping to hear more about SO experiences?

 

[CoffeeCup]

I can't give you specific details about Special Olympics, but I know it's a great program for special needs kids and adults. I have a friend whose profoundly retarded brother was very involved with SO a few years ago. I know his favorite sport was bowling, and he practiced weekly at a local bowling center. I attended the summer games once with my friend and her brother, and I remember how inspiring it was to see the participants so proud of their acccomplishments.

 

[mdvlprof]

SO is a great program. Our church volunteers each year at the state games. If you can get her into the program, go for it. They try to arrange it so people of similar level of ability 'compete' with each other. Every participant gets a medal/ribbon. Everyone is announced and applauded.

 

[SueM in MN]

My DD never wanted to participate, but we did try to interest her in it.
She does have some friends who we involved and thought it was great. As another poster mentioned, participants compete against others of similar ability. There are prizes for the winners, but everyone gets praise at the end for competing.

My DH volunteered a couple of times for SO and found it to be very rewarding and also fun. He was security at one set of games for the dorms they were staying at and I don't remember what he did at the other, but I thought it was greeting competitors after they finished.

Almost forgot - I am moving this to the disABILITIES COMMUNITY Board since that board is for non-Disney related questions.

 

[tinkslite]

didn't mean to post in wrong place

 

[PattyN]

My son is 16 and on the autism spectrum as well. He has been participating in Special Olympics for about 4 years and we LOVE it. Our program runs through his school district. DS has motor issues, so he is pretty uncoordinated, plus he doesn't process quickly, so playing "regular" sports is out for him, especially at his age. Sp. Olym. has been wonderful. He participates in basketball ( his team just placed 2nd in their division in the state games!), swimming, tennis, and bowling. He has also done track. We are hoping to get enough interest for softball this summer. The divisions are small, so at the competition everyone gets an award of some kind, and that's what matters to him. He wants that medal to show at school! In our district, he will even be able to get a letter jacket next year when he is in 10th grade. I would definitely look into the program in your area. It is a program in which our kids grow and thrive, and I recommend it to anyone!

 

[DVC96]

My DD 18 has been a participant in SO for several years here in Northern VA. She started out participating in swimming and bowling, but tired of the swimming after a couple of years. (She has mild CP, but is globally affected). That being said, she loved it while she was doing it, but is not very competitive and didn't really care for the meets, although she won several 1st place ribbons. Now, she only does bowling and absolutely loves it. We have wonderful coaches who make it fun - some of the kids are great bowlers, too. We are on a break from that until August, but she is counting down the days until it starts again. Our area does not offer horsebackriding through SO, but she has participated for 10 years in therapeutic riding, which is her great love. I highly recommend SO - we have had only good experiences. The coaches and volunteers make it a wonderful program!

 

[SueM in MN]

didn't mean to post in wrong place

No problem.
I just moved it because you are likely to get more responses here. People on the other part of the disABILITIES Board are looking more for park and travel questions and this might get lost there.

 

[rock_doctor]

I would say it is a must do! It is getting harder to get onto a team as money is getting short. The majority of the money for S.O. comes from the Kennedys and with cost going up it is getting harder and harder to go to major meets. You sp-ed teacher friend should be able to point you to who you need to talk to about getting her started. It is a very small community even if it is a big county and once you find the right person they can point you in the right direction. Swimming is very variable and there is categories that go from walking on the bottom to full-out swimmers. She should not have any concerns what so ever. My brother bowls and his team has been in existence since the very early 70s. Start at the main Special Olympics webpage and see if you can drill down to your local page and that will show you the different sports that are available plus who the coaches are. She may even enjoy some of the other sports. Good luck. DO IT , it is very fun not only for the kids but for family members also... Generally you have local meets that weed down, then county meets that weeds down, then regional meets (multiple county) and then state meets with the final being country wide meet where only the best go to. We love it each year. Plus (and this is a big plus) you will be around other parents who are also in your same situation and they can give tips and tricks that you may not know about or had not thought of.... It is good for all who are involved plus...if you son wants to get involved (they are always looking for helpers or assistant coaches) it is great for him plus looks good on his college applications.