The Special Olympics
The worst thing for a parent is to see their child suffer, and unfortunately for parents with a disabled child it is an everyday occurrence. In order to help those with special needs, the Special Olympics was created. The Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics gives them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their peers and families. The goal of the Special Olympics is to teach those with disabilities to create happiness. They are loved for the people they are and they need not pursue happiness by wishing that they had a life without a disability because they are perfect just the way they are.
Every spring I am lucky to have the opportunity to help coach with Special Olympics New Hampshire. For the past two years I have grown to have a special friendship between my athlete named Kevin and I. Kevin has a genetic disorder that causes him to be unable to speak, completely understand parts of speech, or perform certain motor skills. This means that I can speak to him and he will understand parts of what I am telling him but not everything that I tell to him. He is also unable to communicate his needs verbally, therefore a majority of the time we speak with American Sign Language.
By participating in the Special Olympics, I am able to create happiness for both myself, Kevin, and Kevin’s family. When I see the happiness in Kevin’s face after he gets a medal in one of his events, it reminds me how much happiness means in life. Kevin creates happiness by realizing that although he will not be able to participate in the Olympics, he is very fortunate to be able to participate in the Special Olympics. He has two loving parents who care for him and he has friends and coaches like me who adore helping him.
Not only is Kevin able to create happiness, but also his parents are able to do so as well. I’m sure at some point in their lives, Kevin’s parent were pursuing happiness, wishing that they did not have to see their child suffer with a genetic disorder and that he could have an easier life. But everytime I see them, they are one of the most positive and happy people I have ever met. Despite their son’s disability, Kevin’s parents are able to create happiness out of all of the love and support their son receives. It is amazing being able to see the joy on their faces when their son is happy!
Lastly, by participating in the Special Olympics I am able to create happiness for myself. Seeing the happiness that Kevin and his parents are able to create despite a significantly more difficult life is truly inspiring. It makes me realize how fortunate I am to be able to participate in nearly any activity I would like to, and it allows me to create happiness out of the simplest of things. From the ability to hold a conversation with a friend to being able to go to school and be enrolled in all honors classes, I realized how to create happiness out of everything that I have because people like Kevin do not always have the same opportunities I do, which is why I am so grateful for being able to help coach the Special Olympics.
Every spring I am lucky to have the opportunity to help coach with Special Olympics New Hampshire. For the past two years I have grown to have a special friendship between my athlete named Kevin and I. Kevin has a genetic disorder that causes him to be unable to speak, completely understand parts of speech, or perform certain motor skills. This means that I can speak to him and he will understand parts of what I am telling him but not everything that I tell to him. He is also unable to communicate his needs verbally, therefore a majority of the time we speak with American Sign Language.
By participating in the Special Olympics, I am able to create happiness for both myself, Kevin, and Kevin’s family. When I see the happiness in Kevin’s face after he gets a medal in one of his events, it reminds me how much happiness means in life. Kevin creates happiness by realizing that although he will not be able to participate in the Olympics, he is very fortunate to be able to participate in the Special Olympics. He has two loving parents who care for him and he has friends and coaches like me who adore helping him.
Not only is Kevin able to create happiness, but also his parents are able to do so as well. I’m sure at some point in their lives, Kevin’s parent were pursuing happiness, wishing that they did not have to see their child suffer with a genetic disorder and that he could have an easier life. But everytime I see them, they are one of the most positive and happy people I have ever met. Despite their son’s disability, Kevin’s parents are able to create happiness out of all of the love and support their son receives. It is amazing being able to see the joy on their faces when their son is happy!
Lastly, by participating in the Special Olympics I am able to create happiness for myself. Seeing the happiness that Kevin and his parents are able to create despite a significantly more difficult life is truly inspiring. It makes me realize how fortunate I am to be able to participate in nearly any activity I would like to, and it allows me to create happiness out of the simplest of things. From the ability to hold a conversation with a friend to being able to go to school and be enrolled in all honors classes, I realized how to create happiness out of everything that I have because people like Kevin do not always have the same opportunities I do, which is why I am so grateful for being able to help coach the Special Olympics.