Special Olympics Athletes from all 50 States to Champion the Rights and Needs of People with Intellectual Disabilities
Who: Delegations of Special Olympics athletes and Program leaders, coaches, and family members from all 50 states will participate in Special Olympics’ 16th annual “Capitol Hill Day.” Spokespeople available for media interviews include all delegates and the following:
Special Olympics athletes, leaders, and families from 50 states
Timothy P. Shriver, Special Olympics, Chairman
Darrell Green, Pro Football Hall of Fame and former cornerback/Washington Redskins
Dale Moss, Special Olympics celebrity supporter and NFL Wide Receiver
What: Special Olympics participants and supporters will converge on Capitol Hill to meet with Congressional leaders to urge their continued commitment to ensuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and Special Olympics are top of mind when critical decisions are made for the country. Throughout the day, athletes and Special Olympics ambassadors will meet face-to-face with their Congressional representatives.
When: Tuesday, February 13 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Meetings on-going all day on the Hill (Media should contact Special Olympics for information on photo and interview opportunities)
Why: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are a population that is far too often ignored and subject to stigma and stereotypes that have real and significant social consequences – consequences that are particularly profound in the areas of healthcare and education.
Did you know that for every $1 of federal support of Special Olympics health programming, $7.42 in health services are provided to Special Olympics athletes? For every $1 of federal support of the Special Olympics Strategy for Unified Schools, $4.00 in inclusive education services are provided to Special Olympics athletes and children without intellectual disabilities in schools across the country.
Special Olympics strongly supports the preservation and enforcement of laws that guarantee the rights and full participation and integration of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) into our society.
Special Olympics, in partnership with the U.S. Government, is helping to address these issues through highly impactful, cost-effective programs that address access to sport, health, and education services.
As Congress determines its budget and spending priorities for FY 2019 and beyond, we remain vigilant against any erosion of provisions in laws that have made a substantial difference in the lives of people with ID.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968, and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 5 million athletes and Unified partners in more than 170 countries. With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and over 108,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including the Christmas Records Trust, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company, United Airlines, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, Microsoft, Lions Clubs International, Bank of America, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, Safilo Group, and TOYOTA. Click here for a full list of partners. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and our blog on Medium.
Media Contact
Tara Baker
860-877-5068
tbaker@specialolympics.org