Imprtance of Special Olympics

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Importance of Special Olympics “Every year around 4.2 million special needs participants attend Special Olympics events around the world.” (Special Olympics). Special Olympics gives individuals with disabilities an opportunity to enjoy participating in sports in the same ways as any other athlete. Special Olympics shows the accomplishments, skill and the bravery of the athletes. Athletics, through Special Olympics, make a positive impact on the lives of those with special needs allowing them to lead active lives. Special Olympics is an association that allows the disabled to be active by participating and competing in the sport events. In the 1950s through the 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver realized the difference in the way people acted toward the special needs population and the difference in the way people acted toward others. She began to think about the disadvantages of the disabled and their ability to do activities. She knew they were capable of doing some activities, but no one tried to achieve a difference in the way the special needs were treated. Shriver hated the fact that the disabled were ignored because people didn’t believe the special needs people were the same as others (Meyer). The disabled are dealing with problems every day of their lives that cannot be fixed. Although Shriver understood that, she did not understand was why society would even think to treat the disabled differently even if they had issues. They had no control over that. She finally came to the conclusion that she needed to make a difference. Shriver tremendously wanted people to look at the disabled differently; they are humans too. She held events on her own time to observe what they could do. She didn’t focus on what they couldn’t achi... ... middle of paper ... ...ial Needs: Information and Activities to Promote Awareness and Understanding. Santa Barbara, CA: Learning Works, 1996. Print. Girod, Christina M. Learning Disabilities. San Diego, CA: Lucent, 2001. Print. Mannix, Darlene. Life Skills Activities for Secondary Students with Special Needs. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2009. Print. Meyer, Jennifer. "Learning to Give, Philanthropy Education Resources That Teach Giving and Civic Engagement." Learning to Give. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. "Special Education and Sports: The Disabilities Act and Interscholastic Sports." Special Education and Sports: The Disabilities Act and Interscholastic Sports. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. "Special Olympics: FAQ." Special Olympics: FAQ. Special Olympics, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. "Sport and Persons with Disabilities." Right to Play. Right to Play, 2001. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

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