Special Olympics Connecticut Inc

Programs: Special olympics connecticut (soct) provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. We served 12,209 athletes and partners throughout the state through local, regional and state programs. This year, soct hosted over 93 tournaments and competitions in 27 different sports. We pride ourselves on contributing to the lifelong physical, social, and personal development of individuals with intellectual disabilities in the state, offering many vital non-competition programs such as unified sports fitness clubs, which combine athletes with and without intellectual disabilities in the same clubs to participate in a variety of fitness activities; (refer to schedule o, page 44 for complete description)the athlete leadership program (alps), which allows our athletes the opportunity to be trained in communication and presentation skills and, in turn, serve as spokespersons for the organization, the healthy athletes program which is designed to help our athletes improve their overall health and fitness by receiving a variety of health services conducted by certified clinicians; the young athletes program which focuses on developing gross and fine motor skills, eye/hand coordination and the skills necessary for these children with intellectual disabilities to compete in special olympics competition once they reach age 8; and the unified art program which provides collaborative opportunities in the visual arts for school aged children, with and without intellectual disabilities. Total donated goods and services of $3,535,702 supported these program initiatives.

winter games - 756 athletes and partners from across the state trained and competed in the olympic-style winter sports of snowshoeing, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, figure and speed skating, curling, and floor hockey. Athletes also received free health promotions and fun fitness screenings as part of our healthy athletes program. Total donated goods and sevices of $821,365 supported these program initiatives.

summer games - 2,551 athletes and partners from across the state trained and competed in the olympic-style summer sports of athletics (track & field), cycling, aquatics, soccer, and tennis. Athletes also participated in the healthy athletes program, designed to help improve their overall health and fitness through a variety of health services conducted by certified clinicians. The program, conducted on-site at southern connecticut state university throughout the duration of sports competition, is broken up into 7 major categories: special smiles, healthy hearing, opening eyes, fun fitness, healthy promotions, fit five, and fit feet. Total donated goods and services of $724,107 supported these program initiatives.

unified sports holiday classic - 2,359 athletes and partners from across the state trained and competed in the olympic-style sports of basketball, bowling, power lifting, and volleyball. Athletes also received free dental screenings as part of the "special smiles" segment of our healthy athletes program. Total donated goods and services of $148,512 supported these program initiatives.