#ImAGameChanger - Lee-Davis High School

November 15, 2017 Rachel McQuiston

BY: USA GAMES CORRESPONDENT, MIKE GASTINEAU

If you work at a high school and you’re interested in growing or improving the programs within your school that are geared towards helping kids with intellectual disabilities, you would be well advised to take a look at what’s happening at Lee-Davis High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

Sara Salvato is one of the teachers in the school’s Functional Academics program. The program is designed to reach the 21 students enrolled at Lee-Davis who have intellectual disabilities or autism. According to Salvato, the buy-in level among everyone at the school when it comes to the idea of inclusion is remarkable.

#ImAGameChanger - Amanda Geno

November 8, 2017 Rachel McQuiston

BY: USA GAMES CORRESPONDENT, MIKE GASTINEAU

Amanda Geno remembers her first experience with Special Olympics. At the time, she wasn’t very happy about it.

Geno was a freshman at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was a member of the cross country team and was less than thrilled when she was told by the coach he wanted the entire team to participate in a Special Olympics competition.

“He told us we were volunteering, but he also told us it was mandatory,” she said. “I had no idea what we’d be doing. I just knew we had to get out of bed on a Saturday morning and be somewhere by 7 a. m.”

The event was a motorized wheelchair race on a slalom course. Upon her arrival, it didn’t take long for Geno to change her attitude.

#ImAGameChanger - Bobby Striggow

November 1, 2017 Rachel McQuiston

BY: USA GAMES CORRESPONDENT, MIKE GASTINEAU

“Bobby Striggow has been a game changer since he first stepped in the halls of Orono High School.”

Those are the words of Orono High School teacher Michelle Swenson who nominated Striggow to be recognized by the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games as someone who is changing the game for people with intellectual disabilities. The depth of Striggow’s involvement with his school’s program in Long Lake, Minnesota is indeed inspiring, and he didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

“My older brother Jackson and my older sister Hannah were both very involved in the Special Olympics program and they kind of dragged me into it,” Striggow said. “When I was a freshman I was a really quiet kid and helping the students who were in Special Olympics helped open me up a bit.”

2018 Special Olympics USA Games Appoints Sports Commissioners and Technical Delegates

October 4, 2017 Rachel McQuiston

SEATTLE – October 4, 2017 – The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games announced today the lineup of sports commissioners and technical delegates for next year’s USA Games. The sports commissioners (SC) and technical delegates (TD) work hand-in-hand to ensure all aspects of the 14 individual and team competitions at the 2018 USA Games are properly and safely executed, and in compliance with the rules of Special Olympics and of each sport’s national governing body.

From July 1-6 2018, more than 4,000 Special Olympics athletes, coaches and representatives from across the U.S., along with tens of thousands of volunteers and spectators, will gather in Seattle for six days of national-caliber competition.