Special Olympics

[lucigo]

Has anyone been to state competitions? We are going in 2 weeks for gymnastics. Its being held at Disney.

I have two goals, for my son to understand that he wants to do his best, and that he will get a medal for it (basically I want him to understand what its all about), and for him to be able to have fun and not be overwhelmed and bored with too much waiting.

I think this will be my first real attempt at a social story!

 

[lucigo]

Wow, no one here has done special olympics? If you are interested I will report back and let you know how it goes

To be honest, my experience so far has been on the fence, but I will let you know how it goes at state. I obviously hope it goes well!

 

[LMC]

My son participates in SO in Alabama. He does the regionals and State games. He plays golf so it may be a little different as there are not as many competitors as the other sports. They don't always get medals here at State. I think this past May they received ribbons. Sometimes there are more than 3 competitors in a division and I am not sure if they give awards past 3rd place. My son usually places in the top 3 so he gets a ribbon or medal (depending on what they are giving out). He absolutely LOVES it so we make sure we get him to competitions since he does not play local sports or school sports.

 

[SueM in MN]

My DD never wanted to participate, but some of her friends have and really liked it. My DH has also volunteered in the past for Special Olympics and felt it was very fulfilling.
Some people are in it because they enjoy the competition, but don't care that much if they win. Others are in it to win.

 

[alaskanabbott]

My 14 yr old son with CP, mito, ld swims for SO in AK. Our program is very laid back and James loves it! We chose not to do the State comp b/c it was several days of sleeping at the college and being in a large, noisy venue for long days-this would have been hard for him. James is "high functioning" and loves getting a ribbon. Good luck

 

[lucigo]

Thank you all! Ben received ribbons at the area games so I will just tell him that he is getting ribbons again just in case he doesn't get a medal. He is one always wants to be first in line, so he might get upset if he is 2nd or 3rd place...and yet he really doesn't understand that its competition when he is doing the routines, only that he is standing in the 2nd or 3rd spot! (Thanks Mario Kart LOL)

I went to the meeting last night and found out that they are changing the activities we are competing in, so instead of the floor routine they learned, they are teaching them something new tonight - at our last practice! So obviously I'm really not worried about him being exceptional - I just him to experience it and have a good time. I'm going to video tape him on his ipod at practice tonight so he can watch the routine and get to know it (hopefully) before next weekend.

They still haven't told us where we are staying, but I'm pretty sure its at All-Star Sports.

 

[minkydog]

Hope your Special Olympian has a lot of fun! Christian has been in Special Olympics swimming for the last 4 years. We have gone to state twice and it was fun, but it was also difficult for him to be so out of his element. Christian actually did much better at the regional games. He was more relaxed and less agitated all around. He got to participate in the opening ceremonies (bring plenty of tissues if you do this~!) Plus, he did well enough to take 2 first place ribbons. Christian doens't care as much about the ribbons as the other kids. He just loves to swim and he loves the swim meet atmosphere--all the cheering, the flags, the splashing.

 

[lucigo]

Hope your Special Olympian has a lot of fun! Christian has been in Special Olympics swimming for the last 4 years. We have gone to state twice and it was fun, but it was also difficult for him to be so out of his element. Christian actually did much better at the regional games. He was more relaxed and less agitated all around. He got to participate in the opening ceremonies (bring plenty of tissues if you do this~!) Plus, he did well enough to take 2 first place ribbons. Christian doens't care as much about the ribbons as the other kids. He just loves to swim and he loves the swim meet atmosphere--all the cheering, the flags, the splashing.

Thanks! We are actually leaving for Orlando tomorrow, and the competition is Saturday. I'm expecting his tic to be bad, I know it will be stressful and loud, and no pressure to perform well. His routines are pretty simple, so thats good, but he will be in a new place, with a judge instead of mom watching him and I know its going to be different.

How old is your son? I have a friend whose son swims. We use our pool as our social time and I have been afraid if we got into it that it would become work and he wouldn't want that time with mom and dad, if that makes sense!

I did tape his floor routine for him to watch as "mental practice". If you would like to see, its here...

http://youtu.be/Yp3NaYXXnGI

 

[minkydog]

Thanks! We are actually leaving for Orlando tomorrow, and the competition is Saturday. I'm expecting his tic to be bad, I know it will be stressful and loud, and no pressure to perform well. His routines are pretty simple, so thats good, but he will be in a new place, with a judge instead of mom watching him and I know its going to be different.

How old is your son? I have a friend whose son swims. We use our pool as our social time and I have been afraid if we got into it that it would become work and he wouldn't want that time with mom and dad, if that makes sense!

I did tape his floor routine for him to watch as "mental practice". If you would like to see, its here...

http://youtu.be/Yp3NaYXXnGI

How was the swim meet? Christian is 16. He is profoundly mentally handicapped and autistic, but he's very active and LOVEs to swim. Last year he practiced with the Special Olympics coaches, but we withdrew him prior to the event.They were just fine with that. The last time we went to State Christian was so focused on the string of flags overhead that he turned around and swam back just so he could stare at them longer. Needless to say, he placed last in THAT event! Fortunately, he could care less and he had a great time in the pool. Matter of fact, they had to bodily haul him out.

 

[lucigo]

How was the swim meet? Christian is 16. He is profoundly mentally handicapped and autistic, but he's very active and LOVEs to swim. Last year he practiced with the Special Olympics coaches, but we withdrew him prior to the event.They were just fine with that. The last time we went to State Christian was so focused on the string of flags overhead that he turned around and swam back just so he could stare at them longer. Needless to say, he placed last in THAT event! Fortunately, he could care less and he had a great time in the pool. Matter of fact, they had to bodily haul him out.

I can totally see that happening - a string of flags, what could be better than that!!

 

[lucigo]

Just wanted to share, we had a great time in Orlando. My son competed in gymnastics, floor exercise, balance beam and vault. I'm not sure if all sports are this way, but the most basic is level A and thats what he did. It was more about the experience and learning to perform than about skill. I was so proud of him! He got bronze in floor, and gold in beam and vault, and overall gold. He is very proud of his medals and took them to school and showed them to everyone! I had emailed his teacher and told her they were in his backpack and maybe she could ask him about them - she said, too late, they were the first thing he pulled out and showed everyone! I almost cried! AND he proved me wrong with the "always having to be first" thing, he is just as proud of his bronze as he is of the gold

The video is his floor routine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MUdIm69Nps

And if you just need a Disney/S.O. fix, here are my facebook pix LOL
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2354139287782.123123.1079169750&type=1&l=c4ab868263