Our Voices
Special Olympics is a movement from athletes with intellectual disabilities. Our Voices shares their unique voices and perspectives.
From Teammate to Official
How a Love of Football Helps Hassam Set Goals and Accomplish Them
1 Min Read
My Journey in Athlete Leadership
On and off the field, Kristine Hughes is a champion of inclusion. She’s a Special Olympics athlete, an athlete leader, a certified coach, and an official. She is also the Athlete Leadership Manager and a Sargent Shriver Global Messenger for Special Olympics North Carolina.
3 Min Read
Play to Win. Refuse to Lose.
Winning Gold at the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015
2 Min Read
Loretta Claiborne Shares her Life Experiences on Laughter Permitted with Julie Foudy
On the podcast Laughter Permitted with Julie Foudy, Special Olympics Chief Inspiration Officer Loretta Claiborne discussed her experiences being bullied, recalled finding her voice through Special Olympics and shared her hopes for the future.
1 Min Read
Special Olympics Athlete Leader Tackles Lack of Inclusive Research
Ben Haack, Special Olympics Athlete Leader from Australia, and Olivia Najdovski, 2020 Social Connectedness Fellow at Special Olympics, discuss the need to include people with intellectual disabilities in research design for studies pertaining to them in a post for The Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness.
1 Min Read
Volunteering at the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015
Since February 2015 when she first volunteered for Special Olympics at the Special Olympics New York State Winter Games, she has been committed to serving the athletes in the movement.
2 Min Read
Athlete Jaime Cruz Talks About Advocating for Independence and Starring in a Music Video
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.
4 Min Read
Special Olympics Athletes Highlight Mentors During Global Week of Inclusion
The 10 Sargent Shriver International Global Messengers (SSIGM) gathered in a Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal Hotel during the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
3 Min Read
Connecting Culture during a Pandemic
I interviewed a girl from Japan named Sayako. She was very nice and easy to talk to. I interviewed her on Special Olympics, the coronavirus and how it’s impacting us, and our personal interest, including Japan.
3 Min Read
Using Technology to Stay Connected, An Athlete’s Perspective
Why is it so hard to have to stay home when you are used to getting out and about, riding the metro, and feeling a sense of freedom? Because of COVID-19, we are staying home so that we can protect those who are vulnerable to the disease. We are all so used to being active, outgoing, human beings, by being at home, we are losing that.
3 Min Read