National Games Symposium Compete, Empower, Unite Randall Stewart Borntrager Sport has long been used as a metaphor for human understanding. Indeed, many claim that sport is valued not because of the winning and losing of competition, but because it enlivens the spirit and creates a pantheon of characters that live on a greater realm than others. Sport has long embodied the mythical journey of the spirit – be it negative or positive. In the same vein, Special Olympics was founded on the premise that sport empowers people with intellectual disabilities to realize their full potential and thereby breaks down the misperceptions and hurdles of everyday life. But, while sport is an integral part of Special Olympics, it has also recognized the need to take an increased role in thought leadership and research as Special Olympics is one of the few vehicles that can act as a catalyst for social change for people with intellectual disabilities. Healthy Athletes Update U.S. Senate Subcommittee Field Hearing Health Care Students at the Games Essilor Recognition Shanghai Invitational Games In the Spotlight “This symposium brought together leaders in the field of intellectual disability and allowed us to speak in one voice to help break down the barriers for people with intellectual disabilities,” Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, said. “As we look to the future, justice and dignity are the goals which inspire us anew. People with intellectual disabilities and their families need and deserve the same things that each of us need: acceptance, inclusion, opportunities, good medical care, social networks and friends, jobs, respect and hope for the future.” The symposium provided a forum to assess the current status of people with intellectual disabilities in the United States, to learn about new research findings and to challenge one another on what has to be done to meet the needs of this underserved and often overlooked population. The symposium featured one of the largest collections of experts ever assembled to discuss intellectual disability issues. Eddie Barbanell, an actor and Special Olympics athlete, summed it up best when he said, “We need to get the information out to the average person that a disability doesn't mean you can't function in society." >> Return to Healthy Athletes Update, Winter 2006/2007