C4

Jane Barry

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

In the early '60s, testing of children with intellectual disabilities revealed that they were only half as physically fit as their non-disabled peers. It was assumed that their low fitness levels were a direct result of their disability. Dr. Frank Hayden, a Toronto researcher, concluded that given the opportunity, intellectually disabled people could become physically fit and acquire the physical skills necessary to participate in sport.

Enlarge Photo

Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal

Special Olympians, left to right, Megan Jack, Jacob Melvin, Sherry Gallagher, Darlene Anthony, Susan Smith and Margaret Cleland follow volunteer Isiah Richards as they swim at the Saint John High School pool.

Inspired by his discoveries, Hayden led the way in developing a national sports program for people with an intellectual disability. Special Olympics Canada is the result and has been part of a worldwide organization for more than 30 years.

In New Brunswick, Special Olympics is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with an intellectual challenge through sport. As a not-for-profit, grassroots organization, it provides sport training and competition opportunities for more than 900 athletes of all ages and abilities. Athletes are supported by more than 200 certified volunteers currently involved with Special Olympics New Brunswick. Saint John Special Olympics, until 1979, provided sport and recreation for the intellectually challenged under the co-ordination of the New Brunswick Association for the Mentally Retarded. In 1979, when New Brunswick Special Olympics was formed, Saint John Special Olympics became a subsidiary that organization and is now known as the Fundy region.

Special Olympics Canada recognizes the following as official winter sports: alpine skiing, Nordic (cross-country) skiing, figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing, floor hockey and curling. The officially recognized summer sports are: athletics (track and field), aquatics, powerlifting, five- and 10-pin bowling, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer and softball.

Special Olympics Canada National Games are held every two years, alternating between Summer and Winter Games with World Games being held in the year following national games. Special Olympics athletes from New Brunswick returned from the 2008 national Winter Games in Quebec City with personal bests and many medals, including the KV Floor Hockey team, which brought back a bronze. KV us the floor hockey provincial champion that represented New Brunswick at the 2004 National Winter Games in P.E.I. In the 2006 Summer Canada Games, the team represented New Brunswick in soccer in Brampton Man., and won gold in its division. Following his performance at the national games, Rémi Aubé of Nigadoo has been selected to attend the 2009 World Games in Boise, Idaho as a member of Team Canada in cross-country skiing.

Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The principal differences between the two lie in the disability of participating athletes and levels of sports ability.

KV Special Olympics founding member and volunteer Ann Waddell is keen to encourage parents of children over the age of five, with an intellectual disability, to get their kids involved. She says it does wonders for their self-esteem and socialization, helping the entire family and building a more inclusive community.

"What we have been trying to do is create the interest in younger people with different disabilities so that they can continue to learn new sport and social skills. As the athletes grow older, they need younger people to keep the groups going," she adds.

For a modest $20 fee, they can swim at Saint John High School, bowl (at KV or at the west side's Bowlarama), play soccer or floor hockey (at Rothesay High School) and participate in fun activities and special seasonal parties.

"This is a place that will accept them as they grow and learn how to socialize," Waddell says.

St. Stephen/St. George Special Olympics began in 2004 and has quickly grown to 25 athletes participating in the sport of candlepin bowling. Bailey Waddell, is a Grade 2 student at Macdonald Consolidated School in Kingston. He says the best part of bowling is "getting a strike and having fun."

A Special Olympics awards banquet is coming up Oct. 25 at the Amsterdam Inn in Quispamsis.

For further information on the Fundy region and its programs, call Natasha Goguen at the provincial office at 1-888-362-5926, or phone the Fundy region's Ann Waddell at 763-2257 or Wayne Crandall at 847-7860, or send an e-mail to fundy@sonb.ca.

Community Profile is a weekly column highlighting community causes and work done by non-profit organizations in the Greater Saint John area. It is contributed by Jane Barry, executive director of The Greater Saint John Community Foundation. Contact the foundation at 506-672-8880. To view other Community Profiles go to www.saint-john-foundation.nb.ca

Photo: Special Olympics New Brunswick enriches the lives of persons of all ages with intellectual challenges through summer and winter sports like swimming and bowling. Pictured enjoying a weekly swim at Saint John High School is a group from the Fundy region.