Special Olympics North Carolina has been committed to making all decisions regarding in-person gatherings with the safety of all athletes and the SONC community in mind and basing those decisions on current COVID-19 trends as well as guidance released from Governor Cooper and the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Based on current COVID trends, SONC is very closely monitoring the status of counties across the state. We will continue our practice of not allowing any in-person trainings and gatherings for counties that are identified as having critical community spread. Those counties are displayed as red counties. SONC was previously using a map provided by the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). DHHS has now starting using a national map from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to provide the information. That map can be found on the CDC website and it is updated daily.
As of September 15, 2021, Special Olympics North Carolina has updated the protocol for all activities considering the current factors of the pandemic. This protocol is in effect until October 30, 2021. The full document is now available online.
Additional resource documents:
- Code of Conduct and Communicable Disease Waiver Form – This form must be completed by every participant (athlete, Unified partner, volunteer, coach) who participates in any in-person activity. Each person only has to complete it once.
COVID-19 Resources & Ways Athletes Can Stay Active and Healthy At Home
Just because an athlete may not be able to practice doesn’t mean they can’t continue working on their Below is a list of resources to help athletes, volunteers, family members and others continue to stay active and healthy while practices are cancelled or in-person activity is limited. You will also find important up-to-date information around COVID-19 and Special Olympics North Carolina return to activity protocols. Please check back here as more will be added to this page as new resources become available. Vea recursos en español.
COVID-19 Resources and Information
- A course designed by Special Olympics North America to cover the basic information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) including: What is the coronavirus, what are the symptoms, how does it spread, and how you can protect yourself. This takes less than 30 minutes to complete and was created with the guidance of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Access this course now!
- Easy-to-read COVID-19 Booklet: Written by and for people with developmental disabilities. Created by the Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC). Also, available in Spanish.
- Special Olympics COVID-19 FAQs
- COVID-19 update from Special Olympics NC (August 17)
- COVID-19 update from Special Olympics NC (June 17)
- COVID-19 update from Special Olympics NC (May 7)
- COVID-19 update from Special Olympics NC (March 3)
- COVID-19 update from Special Olympics NC (February 22)
- COVID-19 update from Special Olympics NC (January 14)
- COVID-19 update from Special Olympics NC (December 8)
- Coronavirus update from Special Olympics NC (October 20)
- Coronavirus update: SONC fall sports season (June 16)
- Coronavirus update from Special Olympics NC (May 11)
- SONC provides Coronavirus Statement (March 6)
- Coronavirus update from Special Olympics NC (March 10)
- Coronavirus update from Special Olympics NC (March 13)
- Coronavirus update from Special Olympics NC (March 17)
- NC Department of Health and Human Services
- NC Local Health Departments
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC Guidelines specific for people with disabilities
- World Health Organization
- Special Olympics International – SOI COVID-19 Resources
- NC Council on Developmental Disabilities
- North Carolina High School Athletic Association Updates on Coronavirus
- Updates on School Meals Availability During COVID-19 Closures in NC – From No Kid Hungry NC
- Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC – COVID-19 Preparedness & Response
- NC COVID-19 Disability Form – Form to help physicians provide you with proper medical treatment, in case you need to go to the hospital for COVID-19 related symptoms
- “What will it be like? Tips to Prepare if you Need a Covid-19 Test” – Video to help prepare athletes for taking the COVID-19 test
- “Why your doctor looks different during Covid-19”– Video to help educate and prepare athletes for seeing health care professionals
- Special Olympics Mask Wearing Guide
- The Arc NC COVID-19 Vaccination: Myths vs. Facts
- Find Your Spot to Take Your Shot: Visit the NC Department of Health and Human Services website where you can learn more about who is eligible to receive a vaccine and where you can go to get your shot.
- SOI’s What You Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine Printable Poster (PDF)
- SOI’s COVID-19 Vaccine Myths vs. Facts Infographic (PDF)
- SOI’s Making COVID-19 Vaccine Campaigns Inclusive of People with ID Infographic (PDF)
Fitness, Nutrition and Hygiene Resources for Special Olympics NC athletes
- Partner Up Power Up Fall 2020 Playbook
- Weekly Fit Calendars: Simple week-long calendars that athletes can follow to stay fit. These week-long calendars can be repeated as needed.
- Anytime Fitness virtual, inclusive workouts: Join Anytime Fitness instructors, every Wednesday, as they lead live, virtual workouts specifically for SO athletes.
- Fit 5 Guide: A guide based on the three simple goals of exercising 5 days per week, eating 5 total fruits and vegetables per day and drinking 5 water bottles of water.
- Fit 5 Fitness Cards & Videos: These Fitness Cards & Videos offer exercises to challenge all abilities. The Fitness Cards exercises can be done at practice, at the gym, or even at home.
- Fitness & Nutrition Tracker: Challenge your athletes to set daily goals of staying active and making healthy choices. A six-week digital tracker can be found here.
- School of Strength (NEW): School of Strength is an interactive online platform that encourages athletes to participate in a fun and engaging training program that they can do in the comfort of their own homes. Developed in partnership with WWE superstar Becky Lynch, this series of videos, a fitness tracker, a coach’s playbook and a caregiver toolkit all contribute to helping athletes focus on nutrition and fitness and getting the most out of their workouts.
- SONA Virtual Programming: This calendar of virtual Special Olympics programming happening around the country is accessible to all athletes.
- SONJ Yoga Cards: Created by SO New Jersey, this is a list of yoga poses you can try at home.
- How to Hand Wash: A step by step visual guide on how to properly wash your hands created by the World Health Organization.
- Proper Hand Washing Techniques: A video lead by a Special Olympics Health Messenger teaching you how to properly wash your hands.
- Stop the Spread of Germs: A visual showing how you can help stop germs from spreading created by the CDC.
This can be a confusing and stressful time. Here are ways to help the anxiety and stress you may be feeling.
- Self-Care Tips for Special Olympics Families: Tips from Special Olympics on how to care for yourself and your loved ones.
- Sleeping Tips: Tips to help those who may have a difficult time sleeping. Developed by the Special Olympics Strong Minds team.
- Techniques to Help with Stress: Special Olympics has developed a few tips to help manage emotions in stressful times. Take a second to try a few out!
- Tips to Help with Stress and Keep a Strong Mind: A Special Olympics graphic that shows six ways you can build a strong mind during stressful times.
- Yoga Guide (PDF): Created by Special Olympics, this is a list of yoga poses that you can try at home.
- SONJ Yoga Cards: Created by SO New Jersey, this is a list of yoga poses you can try at home.
- Family Flash Cards: Fun and engaging flashcards featuring each of the individual activities and at home equipment modifications for families to use at home to run Young Athletes.
- Young Athletes At Home: Guide for families and caregivers on how to run Young Athletes activities at home.
- Young Athletes Videos: Videos demonstrating the individual Young Athletes activities.
- Healthy Play at Home: Poster for families to track the various healthy behaviors they do at home.
- Find more Young Athletes resources at the new Special Olympics Young Athletes at Home website.
Below you’ll find Monthly Challenge calendars and activities:
