Getting out and volunteering may not be top-of-mind this year due to the CoronaVirus outbreak. But this is still important information for other ways to volunteer and for next year, when most people have hopefully had their vaccine. 

What is The Special Olympics?

The Special Olympics is a sports competition for children and adults with intellectual and developmental and developmental disabilities and it is held across the world in more than 200 countries. It was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of John F. Kennedy.

The Special Olympics is also an international sports organization that was built to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through sports. Their mission is to promote sport as a vehicle for personal development and social integration, while creating opportunities for friendly competition. 

The Special Olympics provides year-round training, athletic competition and life skills education to athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities in more than 170 countries and territories.

The Special Olympics provides free or low-cost opportunities for athletes and families to train, compete and volunteer while building self-esteem and confidence. The Special Olympics is about more than sports; it’s about education, opportunity and empowering people.

Special Olympics Volunteers

At this moment, the Special Olympics are making a difference for over 100 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities worldwide. 

Businesses and volunteers are important to the Special Olympics because they help support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so that they can exercise their rights.

Volunteers make a difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through their actions every day. They help create and maintain Special Olympics programs by assisting with administrative tasks, serving as a role model to athletes, acting as an ambassador for the sport or organization they are volunteering in, organizing fundraising activities and helping at their regional competitions. 

Empowering Athletes with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 

Special Olympics events encourage people, especially athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to join in and show the world what they can do. The Special Olympics’ Volunteer Program is a unique opportunity for athletes of all ages who have an intellectual or developmental disability or are otherwise physically challenged to become part of the Special Olympics community by contributing their time, talent and expertise in a variety of ways.

Volunteers, Athletes and Coaches also help raise funds for Special Olympics by participating in fundraising activities throughout the year. If you would like to run a Fun Run or other Special Olympics fundraiser, the Special Olympics can provide some training! For information on how to get involved with their Volunteer Program please click here.

About Stephen’s Place

Stephen’s Place is an independent apartment community for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, located in Vancouver, WA (7 minutes from Portland, OR).

If you have a loved one with developmental or intellectual disabilities who is looking for a community to live in, please contact us for more information. 

Stephen’s Place is a private-pay apartment community due to our state-of-the-art amenities and programs. We are a nonprofit and do not profit from our community. We are private pay because we spend more than some housing communities to ensure that our residents are comfortable and can safely live their lives with independence and dignity.