Leadership

Champions of Inclusion contribute to a more dignified, just and inclusive world for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), celebrating the strength of a world where we all enjoy the same rights.

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Loretta Claiborne always fought for equal rights growing up. It started as a young child and transitioned into her role as Chief Inspiration Officer for Special Olympics and as a member of the board of directors. During a time of sizable racial divide in the 1960s, she had to fight for inclusion because of her skin color, but also because she had different abilities. A fight she keeps alive to this day.

In a recent article by Glamour, Loretta Claiborne discusses using her life to teach others how to be more inclusive and empathic.

Families are the life force of Special Olympics and their engagement is as vital to the success of the athletes as it is to the amplification of our mission.

This article was authored by a Unified writing team (writers with and without an intellectual disability). Jerry Holy is Special Olympics Virginia athlete and Specialist at Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®. Scott George is the Manager for University Engagement at Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools.

Special Olympics Gibraltar athlete Francis Mauro has courageously volunteered to continue working as a Messenger on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis at a hospital in Gibraltar.

Loretta Claiborne was born the middle of seven children in a poor, single-parent family in York, Pennsylvania. Partially blind and with intellectual disabilities, she was unable to walk or talk until four-years-old. Today, Claiborne is an accomplished athlete, motivational speaker, member of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors, and Chief Inspiration Officer for Special Olympics.

Alison Smith, Special Olympics Connecticut athlete, recently interviewed her long-time friend Kenny Mayne, Anchor on ESPN’s SportsCenter.” They discussed keeping positive while staying home due to the spread of COVID-19/coronavirus.

This world right now is going through a once in a lifetime event, that has put us on the brink. Yet through that, a unique organisation has some very powerful yet simple messages coming from an even more unique group of people who have never been on the global radar.