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Special Olympics Wyoming athlete Jordan Yager (right) meets with U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) on 12 March 2009 during Capitol Hill Day. Yager was one of 40 Special Olympics athletes who met with Members of Congress to urge continued support for funding the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act. (Photo by Anna Berke).
View the Capitol Hill Day 2008 photo gallery. |
On Wednesday, 12 March, Special Olympics went to Capitol Hill. Forty Special Olympics athletes, accompanied by 80 family members and Special Olympics state Program Board members and staff, met with their U.S. Representatives and Senators to discuss the impact of the movement and request continued support. In all, 240 meetings were held with Members of Congress and their staff, where athletes thanked Members and explained why support of Special Olympics' health care, education and worldwide expansion initiatives is critical to people with intellectual disabilities and their families worldwide.
“For many years, people with intellectual disabilities have been kept in the shadows, but Special Olympics is helping to open the doors of opportunity for our athletes to be true leaders, not only in their communities, but throughout the world,” said Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver. “With federal support, we will be able to empower more athletes around the world to become leaders in our efforts to change ignorance and indifference to acceptance and inclusion.”
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U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut) shows his support for Special Olympics Connecticut athlete Jamaine Johnson (right) at a reception on Capitol Hill following Special Olympics delegations' visits to Members of Congress. (Photo by Ryan Eades) |
In 2004, President George W. Bush signed the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act, which authorized US$15 million per year to support Special Olympics education initiatives, worldwide expansion and Healthy Athletes® programs. In their meetings with Members of Congress, Special Olympics representatives stressed the importance of fully funding the act.
Following the meetings, Special Olympics hosted a reception on Capitol Hill. Senators Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut), Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), Thomas Harkin (D-Iowa) and Larry Craig (R-Idaho), and Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) attended, as well as staff members from the offices of Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) and Senators Arlen Spector (R-Pennsylvania) and Ted Stephens (R-Alaska). Everyone enjoyed participating in a virtual sports experience, using the Nintendo Wii game system to compete in bowling and other sports with Special Olympics athletes.
View the Capitol Hill Day 2008 photo gallery. |
