Submitted Photo — Marshalltown Schools Special Olympics, which returned to the district in 2023, is seeking funding for its growing program.
Special Olympics provides sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. When Marshalltown School Special Olympics returns in 2023, we want to ensure the growth of our participants.
“(The district’s) Special Olympics was turned over to Parks and Rec in 2012. Last year, we met with Iowa Special Olympics and Special Services Director Matt Kretzinger to bring it back to the school. He agreed,” Susan said. Arifi, District Program Coordinator and Special Education Instructor. “I think a lot of the community doesn’t know that Special Olympics is coming back because we’ve been out of commission for so long, and Special Olympics has been a big topic in the Marshalltown community for a long time. I did.”
What started as just a few participants has now grown to 70 participants. This number includes both student-athletes and Unified Partners (people without intellectual disabilities who train and compete with Special Olympics athletes on the same sports teams). However, organizers said there was a shortage of equipment due to the increase in participants. Adaptive equipment is required, including life jackets, bowling ramps, bicycles, and snowshoes.
Special Olympics is not an official district program and receives no district funding. When Allie Wenner learned of this, she turned to social media to find fundraising ideas. She has two children participating and is seeing the benefits of enrollment.
“Special Olympics in the district is run by a group of dedicated educators and para-paras who have gone above and beyond to keep the program on track, and we are committed to ensuring the program continues to grow and provide opportunities for “We are trying to help provide ‘every student in our district with the ability to participate in the sport of their choice,'” she wrote in the post.
Arifi pointed out that the funding mechanism will be routed through Special Olympics Iowa, where the funds are held in an account.
“If you want to get equipment, uniforms, etc., you have to request a refund from Special Olympics,” she says.
The district released the following statement regarding the partnership: “Marshalltown Community School District is deeply committed to supporting all of our students, including those who participate in Special Olympics. Although Special Olympics is not an official district program, we are committed to supporting this valuable initiative. We are proud to partner and provide resources. For many years, the district has shared vehicles, drivers, and fuel to transport student-athletes. , we have loaned equipment and provided flexibility for staff who wish to volunteer. These initiatives reflect our dedication to enabling students of all abilities to thrive in and out of the classroom. We value Special Olympics’ role in promoting inclusion and achievement, and we appreciate the collaboration and community spirit it inspires.”
Lenihan Intermediate paraeducator Lauren Bottom said these young people were able to write letters in high school through Special Olympics.
“This is great. There’s talk of kids wanting to have their names recorded on the high school record board,” she added.
Wenner wants Special Olympics athletes to have the same opportunities and resources as traditional athletes.
“As someone who has a son who plays sports in this area, uniforms are readily available and photo days are scheduled… From a parent’s perspective, I find such discrepancies extremely We were able to identify that,” Wenner said.
Although district-based Special Olympics is now in its second school year, the Special Olympics offered through Parks and Rec is still going strong and is called Marshalltown Park and Rec Super Stars.
“Since we offer Camp Marshalltown day camps during the summer, we thought it would be best for someone in the community to continue offering Special Olympics,” Parks and Recreation – Recreation Supervisor Jennifer Hart said. .
She added that Parks and Rec had not offered to offer Special Olympics before taking over the district’s program.
“But we’ve been doing it ever since 2012. We treat all athletes 8 years old and up, not just school-age players like the district programs. So once an athlete graduates; There’s nothing else unless they come to us,” Hart said. “We also have our own account and can raise funds ourselves. We currently have 100 members.”
Hart was Special Olympics Iowa’s central area director when Parks and Rec took over the program. Former Marshalltown Community School District Superintendent Marvin Wade approached her about Parks and Rec taking over due to the district’s lack of funding.
“I talked to Terry Gray, the director at the time, and we figured it out. I did a lot of fundraising and secured a grant to buy all the equipment we needed,” Hart said. I did.
If you qualify, you can join both groups at Special Olympics, which is based in Marshalltown.
“Most importantly, I want them all to be inclusive. I just want everyone to have a chance. We have participants from Grinnell, Tama, Hardin County, CIRSI, etc.,” she said. Ta.
The district’s program is only for students, but organizers say that doesn’t put them at a disadvantage. The program begins the week before school starts and continues until the end of the school year.
Maddie Sodders, a special education teacher and coach at the high school, has witnessed the friendships and bonds that form between the players and their united partners, many of whom are classmates.
“The reason we wanted to bring it back was to give every child in the district a chance to engage and participate and feel safe and supported, with an adult they feel safe with. I think it’s because they thought there was something wrong with it,” Sodders said. “I think it’s an added benefit that they feel like they are a part and an important part of their respective school communities.”
For more information about Marshalltown Schools Special Olympics, contact Wenner at Alyssawenner95@hotmail.com. To register your child as an athlete or unified partner, please contact the school directly. For more information about Marshalltown Park and Rec Super Star, contact Hart at 641-754-5715 extension 3 or jhart@marshalltown-ia.gov.
