Special Olympics Southern California School Games highlight the power of participation for LAUSD students
When asked what it feels like to run at the Special Olympics and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) school games, 8th grader Fernando Galdamez first chose to show, rather than tell: the student from Henry T. Gage Middle School in Huntington Park began running in place.
“I love the event,” he said. “When I came in I felt a little bit nervous, well, just a little bit. But, at the same time, I felt happy.”
Abruptly, Galdamez was called to the starting line. He unzipped his hoodie quickly, leaving it with his team before the starting whistle blew.
This year marks the 12th anniversary for the LAUSD track and field school games and the 50th anniversary for the Special Olympics. Volunteers lined the entrance to Huntington Park High School’s stadium on April 5 to welcome Special Olympic athletes from LAUSD elementary and middle schools. Some of the helpers were general education students from the same schools as the athletes.
“My favorite part is to see them running, because I see that they can do it,” said 8th grader and volunteer Priscilla Argueta from Southeast Middle School in South Gate. “I believe in them, so I believe that they can believe in themselves, too.”
Students from the participating elementary and middle schools cheered for their peers on the field. Orchestrating shared interactions like this one between students with and without disabilities can bring opportunity, as well as challenges.
“I want all of the students to understand that they are more alike than they are different,” said Crystal Perez, a special education teacher at Morris K. Hamasaki Elementary school in East LA. “We just have to have others learn that, and advocate for that.”
Special education teacher Rigoberto Vera from Southeast Middle School echoed the sentiment of highlighting similarities over differences among the students.
“I believe that all students have a challenge,” he said. “It’s just some have a more difficult challenge than others.”
Vera feels strongly that events like LAUSD’s collaboration with the Special Olympics Southern California School Games provide opportunity for profound emotional development, not only for the athletes but also for the attendees.
“I think this event gives students without disabilities an opportunity to grow empathy,” he said. “It gives them an opportunity to be comfortable with differences and also be helpful. They get to build some sort of positive reinforcements within themselves and not judge someone because of their disabilities.”
Special education students from participating schools spend two months training for the school games. This Southern California regional event leads into state, national and international games later in the year. While there is competition, the organizers emphasise the importance of participation over winning — every athlete gets a ribbon at the end of their event.
“I think that knowing that they’re practicing and working toward something makes them feel like they’re already achieving something by arriving here,” Perez said.
Perez sees the exposure as an opportunity for the students to get out of their comfort zones.
“I want the students with disabilities to know that they should appreciate their strengths and acknowledge their needs, so they know what they can work towards,” she said. “I think more than anything, [I want them to] just be proud of themselves.”
Since the Special Olympics was founded in 1968 the goal has been to “empower people with intellectual disabilities to discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success.” According to their website, Eunice Kennedy Shriver started Camp Shriver, a summer camp for children with disabilities, in her backyard in 1962. This once-small event has turned into the Special Olympics world games. Right now there are 4.9 million athletes with intellectual disabilities from around the world participating in these programs.
“It opens their eyes to the possibilities,” said Yolanda Mejia, the mom of another Gage Middle School athlete. She appreciates the opportunity that her son with Down syndrome, middle schooler Alinson Vidal, has received through the collaboration between the Special Olympics and LAUSD.
“The participants feel like they’re a part of the community, and a part of the whole world setting, because they see the Olympics on TV,” Mejia said. “And now to know that they’re a part of it makes them feel a greater achievement, and like they’re not different from everybody else.”
The Special Olympics is celebrating their 50th anniversary in Chicago, Illinois from July 17 to 22 and continuing their mission to help people with intellectual disabilities feel welcomed as participating members of society. The celebration will include an international soccer cup featuring 24 teams comprised of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, a commemorative law enforcement torch run, the unveiling of the eternal flame of hope monument and a concert.
Vera believes that the Special Olympics are giving students with special needs a more holistic view of life that they don’t normally get. He hopes Southeast Middle School will continue to participate in the games because it helps broaden the students’ minds beyond school.
“That’s what we want our students to have, a worldly view,” Vera said.
Vera also noted that he has seen the participants’ communication skills improve. Mejia has noticed an improvement in her son’s spatial awareness since he started training and competing.
“I think he’s developed a sense of awareness to his surroundings. Before he was more secluded,” said Mejia. “Now when we pass by the school, he points out the place where he goes ‘running, running.’ So he remembers. It’s awareness.”
Mejia said during recess the general education classes and the special education classes at her son’s school are separated for the safety of the students with disabilities. However, the last event at the regional competition celebrates inclusivity. All students, no matter if they have a disability or not, are invited to participate in a relay race together.
