Arlene Hosea
WJBC Forum
What began as a backyard summer camp for people with intellectual disabilities is now a “global movement that has been changing lives and attitudes for more than 47 years.”
Eunice Kennedy Shiver had a vision and a goal. The vision was a summer day camp in her back yard for young people with disabilities. Her goal was to “learn what these children could do in sports and other activities, and not dwell on what they could not do.”
That vision and goal continue to remain the purpose and the passion within Special Olympics Illinois today. Our state and community are embedded in the history of Special Olympics. The first Special Olympics Games where held in 1968 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Judge James Knecht and Ron Ross were there in 1968 with a group of boys from the Lincoln Development Center, connecting this community to the history of the first games. In addition, the Special Olympics Illinois main office is located in Normal.
When I joined the Special Olympics Board of Directors several years ago, I began to learn more about Special Olympics. We have 22,000 athletes in Traditional (children and adults) and 20,000 Young Athletes (ages 2-7), all fostering inclusion and acceptance. In this community we have very strong programs with SOAR and Unit 5. Unit 5 is leading the way with Project Unify matching individuals with and without intellectual disabilities, fostering Youth Activation, Unified Sports and Spread the Word to End the Word (R Word Campaign).
The athletes are the heart, soul and spirit of Special Olympics Illinois. Athletes serve on the Board of Directors and in addition, they also serve as Global Messengers and speak to organizations, agencies and get to introduce people like the First Lady Michelle Obama at Special Olympic World Games 2015! If you have not heard a Global Messenger speak, you are missing a very powerful presentation. Each messenger has their own personal story and passion, it will move you. You can learn more about Special Olympics Illinois by looking at their website or contacting them.
As a community and as a state, we have a great history in Special Olympics and thousands of athletes statewide to be very proud of. I hope my community will continue to stand with Special Olympics Illinois today and tomorrow.
The Special Olympics oath completes the story:
“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
I thank the athletes for being brave, being humble and for fostering inclusion and acceptance. Let us all learn from you.