Videos

Special Olympics Rhode Island athlete and Administrative Assistant & Athlete Leadership Specialist Mary-Ellen Powers speaks with JR before her trip to Berlin for the Global Athlete Congress. Mary-Ellen began her involvement in Special Olympics in high school and has now worked for Special Olympics Rhode Island for almost twelve years. Mary-Ellen shares her love of Special Olympics and competing as an athlete with JR.

Jamaican athlete and Special Olympics employee David Duncan speaks with JR ahead of the Global Athlete Congress. David began his Special Olympics journey as a volunteer, and now he is one of the select representatives helping chart the course for athletes around the world. The Global Athlete Congress will meet in June (2023) at the Special Olympics World Games, which gives athletes a voice and agency in charting their own path forward. David explains to JR why the employment of Special Olympics athletes is of such importance to him that he is bringing the cause to the forefront of the discussion at the World Games.

The New York Red Bulls hosted a Unified Soccer team. After the game JR spoke with Isabelle Noonan and Shaeleigh Fleidner-Book about their experience playing on the professional field and more importantly, how Unified Sports is both a "movement and a message."

Special Olympics Athlete and Special Olympics Maryland Digital Media Coordinator Adam Hays joins JR to discuss the "inclusion revolution" and share his own story about how a boy born with hydrocephalus (commonly referred to as "water on the brain") and who underwent more than 30 brain surgeries can go on to win two gold medals at the USA Games and represent all athletes as one of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg team members at the Special Olympic World Games in Athens, Greece. When others have doubted Adam, he has proved them wrong by living a full life and achieving some of his wildest dreams

Ahead of this weekend's Lincoln Tunnel Challenge, avid runner Bobby Fredericks explains to JR why this road race is unlike any other in the country—beyond the fact that it takes runners from New Jersey, under the Hudson River via the Lincoln Tunnel, out into Manhattan, and back again. Then Bobby discusses how he got his start in running and in Special Olympics at the age of five. He adds insight on inclusion and perseverance, and he explains how his experience as the manager of a basketball team not only shaped him but impacted the lives around him.

Welcome to our special edition of Inclusion Revolution Radio and Spotlight Sessions from Special Olympics and accessiBe. It’s an exclusive series of conversations, where we talk about all things inclusion, sport and accessibility.

Tajha Ilerant joins JR. Tajha explains how Special Olympics helped her embrace her true self and how she carries that sense of self into being a motivational speaker, Special Olympics Global Messenger, and a Special Olympics Youth Ambassador.

International Day of Dance 2023Why did you start dancing and how does it make you feel?“It is fun to dance with others.”How do you like dancing with Special Olympics?“Dancing with Special Olympics is a good way for everyone to come together and dance.”

International Day of Dance 2023Why did you start dancing and how does it make you feel?“I dance for fun and it makes me feel good.”How do you like dancing with Special Olympics?“I like it and it is fun to have fun together with others."

International Day of Dance 2023Why did you start dancing and how does it make you feel?“Dancing makes me calm.”How do you like dancing with Special Olympics?“I enjoy it and it’s good when celebrating.”

International Day of Dance 2023Why did you start dancing and how does it make you feel?“It’s relaxing and enjoyable. When I think about dancing, I feel happy.”How do you like dancing with Special Olympics?“I love dancing with Special Olympics and the experience has been awesome.”

International Day of Dance 2023Why did you start dancing and how does it make you feel?"I started dancing five years ago. I always liked hip-hop dance style. I am the fan of the Move dance studio. When we had the opportunity to do it at school, I started doing it with pleasure. Also I started dancing outside of school."How do you like dancing with Special Olympics?"It unites people for great communication with each other. Each competition is not only a desire to perform better. It is a desire to see how others dance."