Special Olympics Provides the Disabled With Chance to Soar

For the Browns, participating in Special Olympics Southern California’s year-round sports programs has become a family affair.

Eleven-year-old Jeff is the athlete. Three years ago, the Ventura boy joined the organization, which serves more than 11,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities. He loves softball, soccer and bowling.

His mother, Kathy, who works with special education students, is a coach for several sports and a volunteer in other duties as well. And his grandmother, Jackie Brown, helps from her wheelchair with whatever is needed, from setting up awards ceremonies at competitions to providing meals for athletes and their volunteer coaches.

“My legs don’t work, but everything else does, so whenever the Special Olympics needs something, I say, ‘Yes,’ ” said the grandmother. She has also enlisted another grandson, age 9, to help with softball and soccer games. Whenever another daughter visits from Northern California, she pitches in too.

The organization is part of the international Special Olympics founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. The Southern California group covers 11 counties, providing free opportunities for the developmentally disabled, ages 8 to 80, to participate in sports.

Melinda London, a regional director for the Culver City-based organization, said volunteers and donations are essential as the program strives to include more athletes while facing rising costs for transportation, uniforms, sports equipment and even medals.

During the holidays, The Times is highlighting organizations that serve needy youths and families in Southern California as part of its drive to raise money for worthy causes. Special Olympics Southern California received $15,000 from the Times Holiday Campaign.

The opportunity to learn a sport and compete with others “gives parents a new outlook on the potential of their son or daughter,” London said, “and, with that, the whole family receives support....

“Attitude is a very big part of what we do,” she continued. “As well as learning how to win and lose, our athletes gain the confidence to move forward in all aspects of their lives. Special Olympics helps them to be more successful in school and later on, when they are out there in the work force.”

Rodney Walker, a teacher at the Benjamin Banneker Special Education Center in Los Angeles, spends his weekends coaching several Special Olympics sports.

“It gives these athletes a lot,” he said. “Some of them live in group homes or foster homes, and they could not get out and do what they do without Special Olympics.”

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