Be a fan of community
From knitting scarves for our visiting Special Olympics athletes to organizing school fundraising events to sponsor the costs of an athlete, Idaho students are clamoring to be involved with the upcoming 2009 World Winter Games and the 2008 Invitational Games. The Games provide an opportunity for our youth and our community to participate directly in a spectacular global sporting event that champions unity and athletic performance. Even more importantly, the 2009 World Winter Games sound a call to action for our youth to create a more compassionate and accepting world, where our differences are celebrated and valued.
A K-12 education initiative is under development that will provide educators, tools and resources to teach students about compassion, diversity and respect, as exemplified through the Special Olympics movement and athletes.
Research indicates that direct experience with individuals who have intellectual disabilities promotes social inclusion and understanding among participants, giving those involved the opportunity to build lifelong friendships. The initiative includes opportunities to meet and interact with Special Olympics athletes through assemblies, class sessions and participating in local Special Olympics events.
Short, concise K-12 lessons will be released on-line and distributed to schools in January 2008. Students will learn about, explore and accept differences in themselves and others with books by nationally recognized children's authors, locally filmed and produced DVDs, and even a book written by none other than Miss Idaho, Sadie Quigley. Students will also learn about the world's largest amateur sports movement dedicated to human dignity, acceptance and overcoming differences, lead by Special Olympics athletes and their fans.
The education initiative is ongoing, with monthly installments on diversity education lessons and ways to get involved. The initiative is a collaborative venture, with other organizations and individuals contributing content including the Idaho State Commission on Libraries, the Idaho Library Association, the Idaho Center for Human Rights, the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Idaho State Department of Education, the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Lori Otter, the Idaho Association of Student Councils and many more.
The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games beckon each of us to get involved! In this world of differences, help make a difference!
To learn more about the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, visit www.2009WorldGames.org, or for more information about Games' Education Initiative, click here.
Source: Special Olympics Global Collaborating Center (GCC) - University of Massachusetts Boston (2007). Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Unified Football Pilot Project 2007.