Special Olympics athletes visit Little Explorers group
Bexley Neis, 2, uses adaptive bowling equipment during the Little Explorers program on September 26. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
By Steve Van Kooten
For some people, it’s difficult to be visible. People with intellectual disabilities, for instance, often become “lost in the shuffle” and are afforded fewer outlets to make contact with their community. Even individuals with a strong network of family, friends and helpers supporting them can fade into the background.
When parents brought their young children to the basement of Hoffman Hall for Little Explorers, a twice-weekly program for children between the ages of two and four years old, it was a chance for families to learn more about Special Olympics and meet some of the athletes from the Prairie du Chien program.
“Today, we’re talking with these families and explaining what Special Olympics is and how it works in our community,” said Prairie du Chien Special Olympics Agency Manager Becky Brunning. “We’re starting to get more out there, but a lot of people don’t know about us.”
Ole Peterson and Damon West accompanied Brunning to meet children and their parents during the one-hour program. Peterson has been involved with Special Olympics for nearly two decades, while West has been an athlete for approximately six years.
“This is a group I haven’t brought in, and I know Becky,” said Sara Ross. “It’s something I know the community would want to know more about.”
Guest speakers are a common feature in Ross’ Little Explorers and Tot Lot programs offered through the city’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. Science enthusiasts as well as the city’s police and fire departments have visited the program in the past.Ross wanted to increase the community’s awareness of the Special Olympics program and their athletes.
“Sometimes, people don’t know what is available to them either, so it provides another way for families to say, ‘Oh yeah, that’s something my brother or sister can do,’ for instance,” said Ross.
Special Olympics provides opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, rather than physical barriers. Special Olympics has competitive sports leagues for basketball, bowling and others.
In Wisconsin, there are more than 80,000 athletes in eight regions. In Prairie du Chien, there are approximately 40 athletes active in the program in some capacity. The team travels across the state to compete, just like school and local sports teams.
Awareness is a powerful thing. When the Special Olympics basketball team does well, it’s a source of pride, and the community can share in that, provided that they know about the team. At the same time, interaction with the community is an essential part of the human experience, but those opportunities can be hard to facilitate for people with disabilities, even in a small community like Prairie du Chien, where everybody seems to rub elbows with everybody else constantly.
“We do it because these guys can get lost amongst everybody, and it’s a huge chance for them to develop and socialize. Special Olympics is all about building each other up; it’s very much about sportsmanship,” said Brunning.
Special Olympics programs provide athletic opportunities that otherwise might not be available to their individuals due to physical or behavioral barriers.
“For most of our sports, our goals are pretty much the same as every high school and every college,” said Brunning. “We expect our athletes to follow the rules. The only difference is we adapt to what they can do.”
Ole Peterson, a health and leadership leader with the local Special Olympics, said the state competitions also offer opportunities for individuals to get free eye exams, hearing tests and dental cleanings to promote healthy living.
Ross will have a new program available for three- and four-year-old children this fall. Playtime Pals is a six-week program available starting October 14. The program will include structured activities with an emphasis on socio-emotional learning and skill acquisition. Playtime Pals will take place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Spots are limited, and registration is required. The program costs $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents. Registration can be completed online by October 7 at the parks and recreation department’s rec desk website.
