Fireside Chat

Tim Shriver speaks with Special Olympics Wisconsin Athlete Cindy Bentley

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Emma Haug Turns Volunteer Hours into Lifelong Passion and Wins Outstanding Coach Award For most of her youth, Emma Haug, a coach for Special Olympics Washington, played soccer and volleyball, but as she entered the hallways of high school, sports became secondary. Not because she didn’t like them anymore, but life happens, and she pursued other ventures. She realized the value in sports after graduating from Washington State University in 2020. “Sports bring people together, whether or not you know what’s happening,” Haug says. “And I don’t think it was until that connection that I truly valued, understood and fell in love with all sports. They bring people together, and that’s all that matters.”
Unified Champion Schools Partner with NFHS for High School Athletics and Activities Throughout the country, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and Special Olympics work together to advance inclusion programs for students with intellectual disabilities. The two organizations aim to increase the participation of students with intellectual disabilities in interscholastic Special Olympics Unified Sports® and support partnerships between NFHS member state associations and Special Olympics Programs.
Special Olympics Showcases Partnership with NIRSA at the College Level Throughout the country, colleges and universities are demonstrating what it truly means to be a part of the inclusion revolution. Students on campus are joining together with Special Olympics athletes to compete in Special Olympics Unified Sports® competition. With the help of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) since 2016, the growth of Special Olympics Unified Sports® intramural leagues is seen on college campuses across the country.
SHAPE America Partners with Special Olympics, Sees SHAPE Member Attend USA Games SHAPE America is the nation’s largest membership organization of health and physical education professionals. It drives excellence in physical education while providing “programs, resources, and advocacy to support health and physical educators at every level, from preschool to university graduate programs,” according to the SHAPE America mission statement.
Youth Leaders Promote Digital Accessibility for All 19 May 2022 – Special Olympics Cape Verde Youth Leaders Edna and Clenira know that improving digital accessibility is essential to building a more inclusive world. Over the next 6 months, the pair will plan and implement a Youth Innovation Project titled “Cape Verde Digitally Accessible for All.”