Intellectual Disability

In a small country with a population of less than 400,000 people, there is a family with 32 children. They hang out together, hold pizza parties, chat, laugh, but most of all, they play basketball.

Youth Leaders with and without intellectual disabilities at the 2023 Special Olympics Global Youth Leadership Summit in Berlin, Germany, united by a common goal of fostering inclusion and understanding, believed that actions spoke louder than words.

Among the racers was Special Olympics Texas runner Kayleigh Williamson who made history as one of the first women with Down syndrome to complete the NYC Marathon (10:09:11).

On Thursday, October 26th Jason Rogers was honored with the national Laura Lee Leadership Award.

1 November, 2023 — Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® (UCS), a program dedicated to promoting inclusion and unity in education, has achieved a remarkable milestone by receiving the esteemed Academy Choice Award from HundrED, a global leader in education innovation. HundrED annually recognizes the top 100 educational innovations from around the world, and Unified Champion Schools has not only earned a spot in this prestigious list but has also been named the recipient of the Academy Choice Award, an accolade presented to the top innovation of the year.

We spent some time with Sara Minkara, Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, to learn more about her perspective and the role of teachers in her life:

Special Olympics Ethiopia held its first-ever Families & Siblings workshop which attracted an overwhelming turnout of over 60 parents and siblings of people with intellectual disabilities.

More than a Special Olympics Florida athlete and Ambassador, more than the first person with Down syndrome to become an IRONMAN and landing in the Guinness World Records, more than finishing the New York and Boston Marathons, and more than winning ESPY and Laureus Awards.

Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver calls for education reform for those with intellectual disabilities.

Five years of teaming up with Aerie to bolster confidence and foster inclusive communities! Check out the 8 athletes who participated in this year's photo shoot.