SPECIAL OLYMPICS KANSAS Inc.
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Mission Statement
Special Olympics Kansas is dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports competitions, health and nutrition programs, and leadership development. Offering year-round initiatives to children and adults with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics Kansas is a platform for acceptance and inclusion as well as one of the largest advocates for healthy lifestyles in the state – regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or cultural differences.
About This Cause
Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics on the belief that individuals with intellectual disabilities could participate and excel in a variety of sports thereby improving their quality of life and that of their family members. Today, Special Olympics has over 4 million athletes in over 180 countries and all 50 states. In the 46 years since the original Kansas delegation of 6 athletes attended the first Special Olympics Summer Games at Soldier Field, Chicago, Special Olympics Kansas has grown and now provides a quality, year-round program of athletic training, health education and competition opportunities to more than 5,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities throughout the state of Kansas. Utilizing the widely accepted venue of sports as its foundation, Special Olympics Kansas has extended its programs to train the athletes for life. Participation develops each individual's self-esteem and self-confidence while enhancing the social, psychological, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of an individual's life. This is the basis of our existence in pursuit of a better quality of life for the athletes. Participants train in one or more of 21 sport offerings participating on local community teams throughout the state. Competitions are held at multiple locations throughout the state at both the regional and state levels under the auspices of five Regional Directors. Five State competitions and all programs are administered by the Headquarters office in Mission, Kansas. Some participants have the opportunity to represent Kansas at the USA Games, or to represent Team USA at the World Summer and Winter Games. In addition to sports training and competition, Special Olympics Kansas continues to implement innovative programs to assist in those areas of service which are lacking to participants. In particular, we have developed programs that focus on the health of athletes and other community members with intellectual disabilities. These Health and Wellness Programs provide: •Regional Clinics and Health Fairs •Information on Health Clinics and Service Providers •Tools to help families develop healthy lifestyles •Resources in the community that will support family fitness and nutritional goals Healthy Athletes® Programs provide free health screenings to identify potential health problems in the disciplines of eyes, hearing, dental, general health, and developing healthy habits. ShapeUp Kansas and Bike4Life programs provide ongoing exercise programs to help maintain healthy lifestyles Other programs focus on personal development and inclusion: Unified Sports© brings athletes with and without disabilities to train and compete together. Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Programs (ALP's) allow athletes to explore opportunities in roles previously considered "non-traditional". Such participation might come in the form of an athlete serving on the Board of Directors or local organizing committee; or it might find an athlete as a spokesperson, team captain, coach or official. Participation in Athlete Leadership Programs may be in addition to or in place of participation in traditional athlete roles. Young Athletes™ is an innovative sports play program for children with intellectual disabilities, ages 3-7, designed to introduce them to the world of sports, prior to Special Olympics eligibility at age 8. The program focuses on the development of fundamental physical and motor skills and the application of those skills through general fitness and recreational activities. Project UNIFY® is an education and sports based strategy engaging youth communities with the goals of increasing athletic and leadership opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities, while creating communities of acceptance for all. Special Olympics Kansas continues to develop and promote programs that help our athletes improve their health and fitness, acquire new skills, and develop lifelong friendships while at the same time encouraging widespread community understanding and acceptance. Special Olympics Kansas has opened many eyes to the abilities of individuals with intellectual disabilities; however, more still need to be opened. What makes Special Olympics a unique and particularly compelling cause is the exceptional potential to serve as a platform for communicating the need we all have to bring diverse groups of people together in an atmosphere of acceptance, inclusion and respect. Special Olympics Kansas serves as an example of how to be inclusive of all people and supportive of each individual's inherent right to a life of personal attainment and fulfillment. Everyday, athletes gain more than just a chance to play a game or run a race; they gain the opportunity to become a role model, a teacher, a friend and an inspiration. For the athletes of Special Olympics Kansas, the training never stops and the benefits last a lifetime.