Talk a little with the athlete leaders going to the Special Olympics North America Athlete Congress in Michigan, and you will notice they have some things in common.
They’re excited and a little nervous.
They’re experienced at leadership and focused on getting valuable knowledge from the event.
Athlete leaders at the Regional congresses around the world will discuss an array of issues facing the Special Olympics movement identified by athletes. The top four issues identified worldwide will be the focus of discussion, problem-solving, and recommendations at the Global Athlete Congress in Santiago.
And they take their role at the SONA Athlete Congress very seriously.
“The Congress gives athlete leaders a chance to be agents of change—to help Special Olympics become more athlete-led. We’re moving in that direction step by step, and this is another step forward,” says Jordan Schubert of Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
“The Congress gives us a voice,” says Drexel Joseph, athlete leader with Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago. “Often, people with disabilities rely on teachers or parents to speak for them. The Congress lets us interact with people like us and speak out for ourselves.”
The Start of Something Big
When the 26 SONA Athlete Congress delegates touch down in Grand Rapids in early March, they’ll be stepping into an exciting week of training, discussion, idea development, decision-making, campaigning, and voting.
“We, as athletes, are the future of the Special Olympics movement. We have a right to have a say in the direction it’s going,” says Athlete Leader Austin Stine of Special Olympics Kentucky.
“Our athletes know that leadership is speaking up, being heard, and helping make things better,” says Cristina Rodriquez, Director, Global Leadership Development for Special Olympics. “When athletes are part of the conversation, it creates a sense of belonging: ‘This is my organization, and my voice matters.’"
“We are incredibly proud of the work this group of athlete leaders has already put into making our Region’s first-ever Athlete Congress a success,” says Greg Epperson, SONA President and Regional Managing Director. “Thanks to their efforts and the support of Bank of America, this is one of our best opportunities to seismically shift from an organization for people with intellectual disabilities to an organization that is led by them."
“Someone told me this Congress is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—that we’re basically making history,” says Karen Kerr, an Athlete Leader with Special Olympics Indiana. “At first, hearing that felt like a lot of pressure. But I also felt honored to have the opportunity and to be part of something meaningful.”
“This is not just about athletes sharing opinions. The issues athletes raise at the Regional Congresses will shape priorities for the Global Athlete Congress and help inform Special Olympics’ future plans,” Rodriquez notes. “It’s not every year you have athletes from every region gathering and sharing their vision—and that input matters.”
In interviews, many of the SONA Athlete Congress delegates acknowledge that Special Olympics has been putting more athletes in leadership positions, but at the same time, they see plenty of room for improvement.
“We’ve certainly come a long way. We didn’t use to have Athlete Leadership, but now we have Athlete Leadership,” says Ben Fields, an Athlete Leader from Special Olympics Oregon. “But I don’t think we’re truly athlete-led until we have more influence in day-to-day operations.”
Two Categories of Delegates at the SONA Athlete Congress
The 26 athlete leaders going to the SONA Athlete Congress are made up of two groups. Fifteen are members of the Athlete Leadership Councils from Canada, the Caribbean, and the United States. These athlete leaders are eligible to advance to the 2027 Global Athlete Congress representing the Special Olympics North America Region.
Billy Seide, an Athlete Leader from Special Olympics New York, is one of the delegates who is eligible to advance to the GAC in Chile.
“The Congress provides a platform for sharing best practices, discussing new initiatives, and fostering collaboration among different Special Olympics Programs,” Seide says. “It’s an opportunity to exchange ideas among different chapters and other athlete leaders—figuring out how we can change the world.”
Another 11 Athlete Leaders were chosen through a competitive process to attend but they are not eligible to advance. Instead, these non-advancing athlete leaders will plan, organize, manage, and lead projects at their home Programs.
Anita Griffin of Special Olympics Massachusetts is not eligible to advance to Chile, but she brimmed with excitement as she discussed what she can learn in Grand Rapids.
“I can bring what’s happening in Massachusetts and share it. We have athletes doing media, public speaking, and fundraising. The Congress lets us work on projects we can bring back, spread stories, and push for the changes we care about. When athletes have a voice in policies, other athletes become more open about what they want to see.”
Though the issues facing the SONA athlete leaders differ from place to place, the common theme is enthusiasm for tackling the issues close to home and on the global level.
“I’m focused on making Special Olympics stronger for everyone across the board,” says Travis Stuckart, an advancing Athlete Leader from Special Olympics Wisconsin.
“Even if people have differences, everyone can be open to hearing ideas—and maybe we’ll brew something up really good together and make a better place for everyone in the Special Olympics movement.”