Intellectual Disability

In China, people with intellectual disabilities can face stigma from the moment of diagnosis. For decades, even the words for people with disabilities included a slur: ascanfei ren, literally “disabled garbage people.”

Ablaye Ndiaye is one of the stars of his neighborhood in Senegal’s capital, Dakar. Yet, years ago, he was mostly an outcast due to negative beliefs and stereotypes about people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities.

Rehan grew up in a part of Libya where people with Down syndrome face widespread discrimination in education, training, and even medical care. Early on, her family had to cope with stigma and her rejection from society.

It's been a hard road for Ella to become a cycling champion—literally. At age six, she had a traumatic fall from her bike; for years, the fear of falling and of the pain never left her. Ella, who has Down syndrome, was terrified and would shake with fear at even the suggestion of a bike ride.

Anas Al-Zerba has made a name for himself as a role model for people with intellectual disabilities, for people with Down syndrome—and for everybody else!

Dive into the stories of three Special Olympics siblings who live to break the barriers to inclusion.

Two kindergarten teachers in Montenegro are showing the benefits of the Young Athletes program in their community.

Clari Lehmkuhl is a longtime trailblazer for inclusion, starting in grade school.

Jaime Cruz Juscamaita wants to build a better world for people with intellectual disabilities—one play, one speech, one competition at a time.

These days, Reginald Fong is upbeat and chatty. It’s hard to imagine that he used to be shy and withdrawn, rarely communicating with others.