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Over the past several years, Special Olympics has worked diligently with other organizations to bring awareness to the offensive use of the word retard or retarded (the R-Word) and how hurtful it is to people with intellectual disabilities.
Unfortunately, there are many instances when television programs and movies work against our efforts by using the R-Word in their scripts. In my point of view, HBO is the most recent offender when they used the R-Word on several occasions in the premiere of Veep, a new comedy series starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
To make matters worse, the show also makes fun of the official who is sent to provide sensitivity training about the use of the R-Word by the character Dreyfus is portraying.
To HBO, the creators of Veep, and Dreyfus, I say you made a huge and offensive mistake. There was nothing funny about your story line and using the R-Word as a comedy theme wasn’t appropriate.
More than 300,000 people have taken the pledge not to use the R-Word at http://www.r-word.org/. To these individuals, we thank you. We also applaud your efforts to educate others about the positive roles people with intellectual disabilities have in our communities regardless of TV and movie portrayals such as the one HBO recently aired.
Law enforcement agencies have played an important role in the mission of Special Olympics in North Carolina for more than two decades. Since the first Torch Run and fundraising efforts in 1988, more than $17.5 million has been raised for SONC by thousands of law enforcement officers and personnel representing hundreds of agencies across the state.
In January nearly 200 law enforcement officials gathered through a series of two statewide Torch Run meetings to discuss plans for 2012 and important initiatives related to their volunteer work. The 2012 NC LETR Council, led by its director, Bill Frick (retired, Chapel Hill PD), and associate directors Karen Morrow (SBI) and Thurman Whisnant (Hickory PD), has set a fundraising goal for 2012 of $1 million.
Those in law enforcement have such an important role in our communities not only to keep us safe, but also to help people who may need a boost in self esteem or a word of encouragement during tough times. Officers involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics take on an even greater role by helping Special Olympics impact the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
 Zach Commander, an athlete from Elizabeth City, illustrated a wonderful example of this impact when he called me one day, excited to share an experience he had with a local law enforcement officer. After he returned from the 2011 Final Leg during the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Greece, Zach was driving to work when he was pulled over. He said he was very concerned about it because he did not think he had done anything wrong. When the officer approached him, he asked Zach for his name and told him he hadn’t done anything wrong but that he recognized him and had heard about his experience in Greece. The officer proceeded to tell Zach how proud he was of him. He then did something that thrilled Zach. He asked him for his autograph!
That officer made Zach’s day by asking him for his autograph but more importantly, this story illustrates that Zach had become a positive role model in his community. The officer was really proud of Zach and used his own opportunity to let him know. The officer’s knowledge of Zach was a result of the local media coverage, which captured Zach’s story in such an uplifting way, showing how a person with an intellectual disability can achieve milestones many would never have thought possible.
So the next time you see a law enforcement officer, thank them for what they do, and if they’re involved in the Torch Run, give them your support!
Last night, Monday, Jan. 9, I was shocked to view the WLOS – TV news report about a “hazing”/bullying incident of basketball manager, Will Poolaw, at Cherokee High School. The alleged actions by the Cherokee Central School System employees against this Special Olympics NC athlete were shameful, embarrassing and downright cruel. For adults whose job it is to be role models, trusted leaders, teachers and mentors to our young people, this incident is unacceptable.
Will Poolaw is a hard working and loyal volunteer of the Cherokee High School athletic department and has been for well over 10 years. On numerous occasions he has missed Special Olympics competition opportunities for himself simply to fulfill his duties to the team. In 2010, he was honored for his service to the CHS athletic department and the following words were said about him, “His unconditional love and caring for the players and coaches of CHS have been unmatched by any other. Words that describe this young man include drive, determination, sacrifice, and an undying support of his beloved Braves.”
The fact that this outrageous incident was committed against an individual with intellectual disabilities makes it that much more offensive. People with intellectual disabilities strive to be respected and accepted within their communities every day. It’s important we take this shameful incident and learn from it. Special Olympics is working tirelessly to educate people about the talents, skills and gifts people with intellectual disabilities possess. Through a nationwide initiative called Project UNIFY, Special Olympics is encouraging students to become “agents of change” so they can make their schools a more tolerant and inclusive environment for people with intellectual disabilities. The response in North Carolina has been tremendous with more than 100 schools involved. The “Spread the Word to the End the Word” campaign has also been very instrumental in getting people to pledge not to use the hurtful word “retard(ed)” and to curb bullying. The occurrence at CHS clearly indicates much, much more work needs to be done.
I sent a letter reacting to the incident to WLOS- ABC 13 and the local newspapers in Cherokee containing the sentiments relayed in this blog post. Other media outlets around the state are beginning to pick up on this story as well, many of them have also received our reaction letter.
We hope the Cherokee Tribal Council, Cherokee Central School Board, members of the local community and the students and faculty at Cherokee High School will condemn the actions of these five Cherokee Central School System employees. Our hope is Will Poolaw can resume his much-loved role within the CHS athletic department and that Cherokee High School will participate in both the Special Olympics Project UNIFY and “Spread the Word to End the Word” initiatives in order to better cultivate a more inclusive and respectful school atmosphere.
Update: On Thursday night, Jan. 12, WLOS broadcast a report that Cherokee leaders had issued an apology to Will Poolaw and his family. The once suspended coaches and administrators involved the incident were being reinstated to their jobs, disciplined and would be mandated to undergo sensitivity training.
The Hinckas were told by doctors many years ago that neither of their daughters would ever walk nor talk but thanks in large part to Special Olympics, Molly and Charlotte are active, confident, and involved in their communities. In this heart-felt guest post Jerry shares with us how Special Olympics has also changed him, and has the power to transforms those around athletes.
My wife Kerry has always been very open and accepting of every type of person. I, on the other hand, used to be a bit apprehensive about people with intellectual disabilities. Even after I had daughters with special needs, I was still concerned about saying or doing the wrong thing and upsetting someone. I also imagined that any relationship I had through Special Olympics would be one-sided, and that I would always be the one ‘giving’ while not receiving much in return.
Boy was I wrong! Yes, I coach, I chaperone, and I organize. But in doing so, I have developed many real friendships where there is plenty of give and take. I feel deeply enriched by the relationships I have developed with athletes, coaches and volunteers.
As Special Olympics parents, Kerry and I have witnessed many transformative moments. It is so inspiring to see an athlete who formerly couldn’t walk running down a track to a cheering crowd, or an autistic child who couldn’t connect socially, develop into an unselfish teammate on the basketball court. These things happen every day in Special Olympics.
What really amazes me is how Special Olympics has the power to transform communities. This organization reaches far beyond the boundaries of training sessions and competitions; impacting neighborhoods, schools and people’s way of thinking about and seeing one another. Transformation is not reserved exclusively for the athletes, but extends to people who are encountering individuals with intellectual disabilities for the first time. Countless times as a coach, parent and volunteer, I have watched someone who is apprehensive about interacting with an athlete do a complete 180 and have the most enjoyable and uplifting volunteer experience imaginable. I know people who volunteered for a Special Olympics event in the past who are now pursuing careers as special education teachers, social workers, or in other philanthropic professions.
The story always starts in the same way – with someone wanting to help another person. By volunteering with Special Olympics, you can help an athlete with an Intellectual Disability enjoy competition. Great, right? It is great. What a wonderful thing to do. But the volunteer ends up gaining as much, or more, than the people they are helping. By helping a person participate in a simple activity that everyone can relate to – kicking a ball in a goal, racing someone down the track – we integrate people with Intellectual Disabilities into the community, and transform that community for the better.
For my daughters who have ID, participation in Special Olympics has been a remarkably eye-opening experience. Since various teammates need different levels of support, the biggest thing Molly and Charlotte have taken away from Special Olympics is the understanding that they can help others. It truly is a TEAM effort. My girls need help with certain tasks, but they are able to help others with some things. It has truly transformed the service-life of our family. Charlotte and Molly volunteer at the local food bank, at a monthly dinner that our church hosts for the community, and have developed strong bonds with residents of an Alzheimer’s Center where Kerry volunteers. Seeing our girls share their special gifts with others has provided Kerry and me with some of our proudest moments as parents.
My wife and I were told by doctors many years ago that neither of our daughters would ever walk nor talk. Thanks in large part to Special Olympics, they do that and much more today. They have competed in varsity athletics at school, are active in our church and community and, get this, are able to hold jobs. That means that they will become taxpayers; supporting communities with their dollars, as well as their time! Special Olympics is an essential piece of any community where people with special needs are allowed to thrive.
As a father of children who have competed in both high school sports and Special Olympics, I have watched costs rise dramatically in the past decade. My daughter Charlotte was a captain on the high school cross country team last year and the participation fees were astronomical. In contrast, Special Olympics provides training, support, community and participation for some of our neediest neighbors at no charge to them or to their families. Of course it is YOUR generosity and sacrifices that make this possible.
Thank you for your support!
Thanks to the efforts of more than 100 law enforcement agencies throughout North Carolina, the North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run raised $976,000 for Special Olympics North Carolina during its 2011 campaign!
Congratulations to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, which raised $68,091 for the top place finish among all statewide departments and agencies! The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office finished a close second with $64,433 raised. Rounding out the top five were the NC State University Campus Police with $47,557; Chapel Hill Police Dept. $46,710 and the Winston-Salem Police Dept. with $33,936. For a complete summary of each participating agency/department 2011 fundraising totals, please visit www.NCTorchrun.com and click on the link called Department Challenge.
I want to thank all those officers who participate in the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run®. Your hard work and dedication to this volunteer program has led to North Carolina being one of the premier Special Olympics Programs in the world with more than 38,000 athletes registered. You can be proud that your agency‘s involvement in the Torch Run has had a positive effect on the lives of so many deserving people in your community. Special Olympics is changing lives and changing attitudes every day through our mission of providing sports training and competition to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The time, energy and effort put in by law enforcement and corrections officers to educate the public about Special Olympics and to raise funds is inspiring! Since no fees are ever charged to the Special Olympics athletes for their participation, the funds raised through the Torch Run are vital to our existence.
We now turn our attention to the 2012 Torch Run year and already many departments are raising funds towards the 2012 goal of $1 million. A choice of two planning conferences are being offered in January (Jan. 12 in Raleigh and Jan. 19 in Hickory) to educate and motivate officers about the Torch Run. We encourage anyone from the law enforcement community to participate in one of these conferences as we will be sharing lots of exciting news for 2012.
During EKS weekend celebrations, Special Olympics North Carolina honored long-time volunteer Marilyn Sturgill during a reception at Appalachian Ski Mountain in Boone for the great impact she has had on each of our lives and especially the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
And what a fitting weekend it was to honor Marilyn. On September 24, the Special Olympics movement around the world celebrated the second annual EKS Day in recognition and appreciation of the vision that Eunice Kennedy Shriver had by creating Special Olympics.
And as I think about Mrs. Shriver and Marilyn, I also can’t help but to think of a video I recently saw that was produced by a young person about her little brother who has Down syndrome and Autism. Watch the video here.
As you can see, it’s a powerful video that shares what this young person sees as an important role in her life —— that is to be a voice for her little brother.
Marilyn Sturgill knows how important being a voice for others is. And although ALS has taken her voice from her, Marilyn was a strong voice for people with intellectual disabilities for more than 30 years.
Marilyn dedicated her life to Special Olympics athletes and has been at the forefront of Special Olympics in Watauga County.
In 1981 she became a special education teacher, and also immediately began coaching and volunteering with Special Olympics in Watauga County. An avid Alpine skier, Marilyn especially enjoyed being on the snow teaching athletes!
In 1985, Marilyn became the Special Olympics Watauga County local program coordinator, serving in that role until 1999 – an amazing 18 years! For her leadership, she was awarded the 2000 Special Olympics NC Local Coordinator of the Year award.
Not only did she serve as coordinator and coach in sports such as Alpine skiing, athletics and swimming, she also recruited a powerlifting coach and took the first Watauga County athletes to Chapel Hill for Summer Games to show off their powerlifting skills when it was a demonstration sport in the 1980s.
Marilyn also focused on recruiting new athletes, volunteers and coaches. She generated publicity about the program and did an enormous amount of fundraising! She believed in having the athletes share their stories about Special Olympics with civic groups and sponsors!
She developed long lasting friendships with the athletes and their families, helping many of them in ways far beyond role of a Special Olympics coordinator.
Marilyn’s impact reaches far beyond the local program in Watauga County.
In 1983, Marilyn became a member of the Games Management Team for the Special Olympics Southeast Region Alpine Skiing Games at Appalachian Ski Mountain.
And in the early 1990’s when Special Olympics NC decided to add a North Carolina-only (state-level) event in Alpine skiing, Marilyn was at the top of the list for the GMT.
In 1990, when SONC created Sport Development Teams for all its sports, Marilyn joined the Alpine skiing Sport Development Team to provide advice and guidance on the development of the sport for athletes and coaches throughout North Carolina.
Marilyn was part of two Special Olympics World Winter Games. In 1989, she attended the International Winter Games at Lake Tahoe as an Alpine Skiing Coach, and in 1993, she served as an escort to parents of an athlete from Statesville who competed in Alpine skiing in Austria.
During the 1999 World Summer Games hosted in Raleigh/Durham/ Chapel Hill, Marilyn was instrumental in making all the arrangements for Boone to be the Host Town for Team Poland. The Host Town Committee she served on organized housing, entertainment, food, and transportation for the Polish delegation. I am even told that she used her influence to involve the Appalachian State University Chancellor at the time since he was of Polish descent.
But thinking back to the concept of the video mentioned earlier, certainly Marilyn has been a voice for hundreds and thousands of those with ID who did not have one. A voice that said yes, I can ski. A voice that said, yes, I can train in sports. A voice that said yes, I can tell you why I can be a part of my community.
Marilyn provided a voice for many whom most thought could not be contributing and meaningful members of our communities.
So for her dedication and leadership, Marilyn is the recipient of the 2011 SONC Jim Long Commitment to Excellence Award.
Jim was one of the founding Board members of Special Olympics North Carolina in the early in 1970s and actually established us as a legal nonprofit organization. He too provided a voice to people with ID when many would not listen. He went on to be the longest serving Commissioner of Insurance for the State of NC before his retirement in 2009.
On Saturday, September 24, Special Olympics will celebrate the second annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (EKS Day) all around the world. In North Carolina, we will highlight this year’s EKS Day theme of A Global Day of Unified Play by encouraging EKS Acts, which are actions or activities that promote inclusion, acceptance and unity for and with people with intellectual disabilities. These activities can be carried out by one person or a small group of people to celebrate Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s values and mission.
Leading off the activities will be an inclusive sports experience during the fall meeting of the SONC Project UNIFY Youth Activation Council to be held in the Raleigh area for more than 50 school-aged students from all over North Carolina.
During the SONC Leadership Conference this summer, I encouraged Local Program Coordinators to plan activities in their communities to showcase the efforts of Special Olympics while also highlighting this year’s theme. We look forward to many great experiences from activities that will occur and encourage these EKS Acts to be posted on the EKS Acts website at http://www.specialolympics.org/eksday/.
As founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics and executive vice president of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver was a leader in the worldwide struggle to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities for more than three decades. Learn more about Mrs. Shriver at www.eunicekennedyshriver.org/.
During the 2011 State Convention awards banquet held in Durham May 14, Special Olympics North Carolina was awarded a $5,000 gift from the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, based in New Haven, CT. The gift is in addition to annual funding support provided by the NC Knight of Columbus through its LAMB Foundation. The gift from the Supreme Council is based on membership growth by NC KofC, which is one of the most active State Councils in the USA.
I was given the opportunity to thank the 350 attendees of the banquet and let them know that their support is vital to our mission outcomes. In plain words, we just simply could not achieve the many successes we have without KofC involvement.
The NC KofC have supported SONC for decades through funding at the local level, which currently reaches approximately $80,000 a year, and at the state level of $20,000 annually. This makes SONC one of the largest nonprofits supported by the NC KofC. For that we are forever grateful.
Volunteerism is also a key aspect of the KofC commitment. Hundreds, if not thousands, of KofC members and their families annually volunteer at SONC local, area, and state level events, making them one of the most depended-upon groups we turn to in carrying out our mission. For that we are forever grateful.
Retiring Immediate Past State Deputy John Gouldie of Raleigh delivered an address that challenged members to continue their support of charities supported by the KofC. With more than a decade of Special Olympics involvement, John joined the SONC Board of Directors this year and immediately hit the road during the spring visiting local Games in Greenville and Snow Hill. John’s goal is to make sure all of our local programs know about and apply for funding available by local KofC Councils. Volunteer leadership is another important initiative to John and he wants to help SONC fill volunteer leadership gaps with KofC members who can offer us their talent and experience. To say the least, this partnership between SONC and the NC KofC is only strengthening thanks to John’s leadership. We greatly appreciate his commitment that will help Special Olympics meet the needs we have in our future in terms of growth and quality programming.
I also presented former NC KofC State Council member and SONC Board member Mike Durbin with a special award recognizing his years of service and devotion to Special Olympics in North Carolina. Mike has answered a higher calling by becoming the Senior Vice President of Global Membership for the Supreme Council. He and his family will call New Haven home so we wanted Mike to know how much his involvement meant to us with SONC. As a brother of a Special Olympics athlete, we don’t expect to lose contact with Mike and look forward to seeing him involved from his global role with the Supreme Council.
History of Knights of Columbus:
On Oct. 2, 1881, a group of men met in the basement of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, CT. Called together by their 29-year-old parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, these men formed a fraternal society that would one day become the world’s largest Catholic family fraternal service organization.
They sought strength in solidarity, and security through unity of purpose and devotion to a holy cause: they vowed to be defenders of their country, their families and their faith. These men were bound together by the ideal of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas, the one whose hand brought Christianity to the New World. Their efforts came to fruition with the incorporation of the Knights of Columbus on March 29, 1882.
They were Knights of Columbus. The Order has been called “the strong right arm of the Church,” and has been praised by popes, presidents and other world leaders, for support of the Church, programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement and aid to those in need.
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Special Olympics North Carolina is not in the Governor’s version of the State of North Carolina 2011-12 budget submitted by Governor Beverly Perdue, according to the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Britt Cobb. NC General Assembly leaders reportedly are considering an end to all funding for nonprofits too.
Why should Special Olympics North Carolina receive funding? We have just over 38,000 reasons why it is important that our state supports this organization. Besides the inspiring athletes who everyday remind us of courage, hope, perseverance, and joy, these key facts underscore the value Special Olympics brings to communities throughout North Carolina:
* Only organization in the state offering large scale organized sports programs to children and adults with intellectual disabilities;
* Service to North Carolina’s largest disability group, people with intellectual disabilities;
* Organization at the community level with a statewide impact; active programs available to all 100 NC counties;
* More than 38,000 registered participants; 3,000 new athletes reached for the first time annually;
* Activation of communities with more than 20,000 registered volunteers, many serving in leadership roles.
Support for Special Olympics from the NC DHHS will be a battle this legislative session, but it is one worth fighting. Let our state leaders know how critical funding is to Special Olympics North Carolina.
NC House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
Co-chairmen
Representative Nelson Dollar – Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net
Representative Justin Burr – Justin.Burr@ncleg.net
Member
Representative Verla Insko – Verla.Insko@ncleg.net
NC Senate Appropriations on Health and Human Services
Co-chairmen
Senator Harris Blake – Harris.Blake@ncleg.net
Senator Stan Bingham – Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net
Senator Louis Pate – Louis.Pate@ncleg.net
Member
Senator William Purcell – William.Purcell@ncleg.net
The Special Olympics mission places a strong concentration on sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Associated with sports involvement is also the notion that anyone involved in sports should also do their best to maintain their personal physical fitness in order to train and compete at their maximum level.
Special Olympics is devoting a great deal of resources in helping our volunteers work with our athletes to live a healthier life style. We have initiatives through the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program in Fit Feet, Health Promotion, Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes, Special Smiles, FUNfitness, and Medfest. All of these initiatives offer non-invasive examinations by medical professionals in their respective field with referrals made for conditions identified that need to be addressed by the athlete’s personal physician.
More than one million exams have been conducted at Special Olympics events all over the world over the past decade including here in North Carolina. The medical professionals who are part of the Healthy Athletes program do their work on a voluntary basis because they want to see people with intellectual disabilities live as healthy a life as possible.
This month, Special Olympics athletes have the opportunity to register for a study being conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago which will collect information on the health status and behaviors (e.g. Physical activity, nutritional habits, etc.) of adults with intellectual disabilities. The study will last four years and help us create important health knowledge to better assist healthcare providers, researchers, and policy makers in addressing the unique health needs of adults with intellectual disabilities (18-years-old or older). Additionally, the study will help us understand how participation in Special Olympics is associated with health status.
Caregivers are asked to talk to their adult peers with intellectual disabilities to see if they are interested in the study. If necessary, the caregiver can assist the Special Olympics athlete with the process to register and provide confidential feedback about their health. Registration is either online at www.rrtcadd.org or by calling 312-355-1396. If you register online, look for the link called the Longitudinal Health & Intellectual Disability Study.
As a partner in this study, Special Olympics encourages caregivers to assist our athletes participation in the study so that we may collect as much useful information as possible over the next four years. The deadline to register is December 31, 2010.
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