Mission: The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Target demographics: All people with intellectual disabilities.
Direct beneficiaries per year: 58,333 individuals with intellectual disabilities in Texas
Geographic areas served: Texas
Programs: Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) provides year-round sports training in 22 olympic-type sports, more than 300 competitions statewide annually, and programming for more than 58,300 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Programs also include: unified sports, which combines athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to form sports teams for training and competition; Unified Champion Schools, which brings together students with and without intellectual disabilities to work on service learning projects and leadership activities; the young athletes program, which teaches sports skills to all children ages two to seven; and the motor activities program (matp), which enhances motor and sports skills for athletes unable to participate in traditional team or individual sports because of physical or behavioral limitations.
Special Olympics has taught me to care for others who need it the most. It started me down a path that I plan to make a career out of. Out of the past four years I've been involved it has taught me so much, but the most impactful is that the kids and adults that participate are just like us. They thrive everyday to bring the best out in themselves. They yern for that acceptance from others and to know that they have freinds out there willing and happy to see them. It makes me happy to see a organization like this out there advocating and teaching others about disabilities.
As a direct care worker for 18 years, I have been at many Special Olympics events with my consumers. The venue, staff, and volunteers made the experience a great memory. Many thanks. :::::::::::::: This is a picture of our tree filled with the medals they have won over the years. They were very pleased to share.
I have volunteered twice now with Special Olympics, and both times I was really impressed by the Special Olympics staff and the fun atmosphere of all of their events. This organization is doing such amazing work for people affected by intellectual disabilities--I highly recommend volunteering or fundraising for them.
I am a past board member of SOTX and have a passion for Special Olympics as my sister was one of the first athletes in this amazing organization. The underlying strengths of SOTX is the respect, the support and the unconditional love given to the athletes in this organization. SOTX helps to bring focus and value to the athletes and their families.
