Connie Tinoco

Hlth 1100
Original: 10/12/14
Revised: 11/15/14
The Special Olympics isnt just a program for kids living with special disabilities- its for
others outside of this community to interact and learn from this community. This program is a
bridge, a social bonding bridge, which helps others understand why barriers for the mentally
disabled need to be broken. By playing/ volunteering, I will be acclimating to this community
and developing my civility sense if I were phobic of this community. (I am not however.)
Also, its for those who have felt bullied and can be a voice for those who cant fend for
themselves. The program was created by John F. Kennedys sister, Eunice, who was inspired to
create it after seeing multiple times bullies who bullied this community. Furthermore, she saw
that this particular community was outcasted in recreational activities which she felt were vital
for any human being. I greatly commend her for her efforts and support her.
Before going to this experience I felt it would be similar to one where I volunteered as a
camp leader for girls who have been sexual victims. The similarities were not the communities.
It was the therapeutic strategy. Recreation. When I camped with these girls I saw how play and
being outside helped them realize their strengths and developed their abilities in being
courageous, generous, accepting, determined, persistent, and prevailing. They also grew on their
skills to work as a team when they were asked to play with others in group puzzles.
These community members have goals and dreams just as anyone else. Their intellectual
limitations doesnt finalize their ability to be. This gives them an opportunity to compete and
experience athletic challenges. I now understand that there is more to the event than I thought at
first. Its not just an event for the particular community- its to bring these individuals into the
spotlight and bring awareness of their needed equality to members of other cultural communities.
Different types of capital gets invested to make this organization happen, which shows
just how important this organization is. My service team has been working with other capitals to
make this event happen. Financial capital has been gained by contacting the University of Utah
to sponsor/host the event. By doing this, the Special Olympic organization has been able to have
the area of location free of charge. Further financial capital has been increased by contacting
political capital. (Which was really easy since it has been greatly supported by presidents since
John F. Kennedys term passed.) National Special Olympic leads have been able to convince
politicians to provide grant money to the event. Built capital was also contacted to help outside
athletes find the location easily through constructed areas.
To be honest, before this event I felt like a fish from another pond and this pond was a
whole other ballgame. It was a challenge for me because I did not know the community that
well. I dont know what to watch out for when I was creating the flyers. I felt I was walking on
eggshells at first. It was an uncomfortable experience, but to create change I had to be willing to
be uncomfortable. This experience reminded me to stay humble, listen, and learn. I was given a
chance to reflect on civic duty pertaining to this community, this experience will further help me

on bedside manner with future patients who pertain from this community if my present plans to
work at the hospital are successful.
As I said before, at the beginning of my service I was a bit jittery. I felt unsure as to what
to expect. I knew part of my job was going to be the creation of flyers but my other handed jobs I
was unsure of. When I went to the tent to register I was told to help out with basketball for the
next two days. I was ecstatic. I remembered how much I love to play the game when I was a kid.
Since I played it before this help me feel at ease to help as the scorekeeper, watergirl, and
sideline cheerleader. Scorekeeping was simple, the referees gave me a crash course on the rules
but I remembered them.
A lot of the other volunteers were veterans in the location I volunteered. Many started
when they were in college and were well into their 30s or 40s. Some volunteered as a tradition
when a family member joined in the Special Olympics. It was an honor to meet some of these
people.
I got to know a whole Latino family from Guatemala whose son and older brother was
playing on the team. They were scorekeeping before me and even though their time to volunteer
was up. They spent some time talking to me while enjoying some pizza.
I asked them how they learned about the Special Olympics. The mother told me she was
the first one who heard from word of mouth.
Mi hijo siempre ser mi luz. No importa lo que pasa. Es mi sangre y trajo ms en mi
vida. Translated, she told me beautifully. My son will forever be my sunbeam. No matter what.
He is my blood and has brought more to my life.
I asked how so and she told me that he has taught her how to love more deeply and
sincerely. She admitted to me that when she was younger before getting married she was a very
vain girl. She always kept up with the fashions and cared a lot about what others saw in her. For
her at that time, beauty was only skin deep. However, with the birth of her first son, she view of
the world changed.
At first she was in denial of what she conceived. The doctor told her when she gave birth
that there was a chance he was autistic, it wasnt finalized at first. As month passed, she could
clearly see he was. She was angry- not at him- but at herself. She felt she could have taken better
care of herself when she was pregnant and maybe it wouldnt have happened. When she told the
doctor her frustration. He assured her that she did everything she could do- in fact, she was
healthier than most moms. So what happened? Unfortunately, this is still something that puzzles
many scientists. In some papers they say it has to do with genetics. Some say it is hereditary.
Others say a deficiency in certain vitamins or avoidable actions during pregnancy. We are still
unsure of the specifics.
She told me she was grateful for her husband. (Her husband was beaming as she said this
during our talk.) She couldnt imagine being a single mom and taking care of him. Since he was
autistic, it made her more nervous as a mother to take care of him. I think in a way, his existence
and their tag team effort to take care of him bonded them more in a way. I could see a well-

bonded family as I talked to them. I thanked them for taking the time to talk to me and wished
them and their son the best. This was Friday.
After, a few games ended. I was asked if I wanted to join in on a party later that evening.
I had nothing to do that day so I accepted. I called some of my friends who lived nearby. Two of
my friends came and joined in on the dance party. I think this was probably the turning point
where I wanted others from this community to have just as much fun as me. Seeing their smiling
faces just warmed my heart. I was genuinely happy to see them enjoying themselves with the
music and refreshments.
They put on Because Im Happy and a whole group of them were really jamming to
that song. I was kind of wondering why when one of the other volunteers told me that many of
them were casted to make a music Youtube video of that song. I smiled- it was the perfect song
for them. A happy-go-lucky song. Innocent and cheerful.
On Saturday morning, I was asked to go back to scorekeeping tournaments. I met another
amazing individual. He was autistic and disabled. He had lost one arm and had a prosthetic hook
as a replacement. Yet it didnt hinder him from playing the game. His persistence to accept the
challenge was beautiful. He helped his team score twice- both times were 3-pointers. I was
seeing history in the making. After the game, I asked if I could help pass out the medals and
announce the winners. I was granted my wish and I got to shake hands with this awesome
athlete.
The coach was inspiring as well. He was constantly shifting his team players to make
sure everyone had a turn. He also called each of the members by name and told them to that
____ maneuver! Each one of them had some sort of maneuver and the way they presented
themselves showed that the coach had one-on-one time with each of them.
The teams also kept me in awe. Anytime a player would score, both sides clapped. They
had excellent sportsmanship. Sometimes when I play I get to competitive and I take it personally
when the other team wins. I couldnt understand why there wasnt a lot of aggression. The coach
explained to me that they only had about a month with him to learn how to play if they were
newcomers. Even if the players werent newbies they had little time to play as a whole team.
Since this is the same for the other team, they are asked to make the best of the game by having a
good attitude.
In a way this explanation saddens me. Members of this community shouldnt have to
wait for a certain time of the year to gather up and play. This experience has helped me acclimate
and understand the social need this community should have satisfied. Thats why I was pleased
to hear that there is something similar to the Special Olympics that is just beginning. Instead, of
special needs kids only competing with each other; they are trying to take it one step further
where volunteers can play as well. I cant wait till I have a chance to volunteer for this in the
future.

Works Cited

"Anti-bullying Activists." Myfox.com. Fox5, 6 Oct. 2014. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.

<http://www.myfoxny.com/clip/10661655/anti-bullying-activists#.VDPrqvhNL_o.facebook>.
Green, Mark. "Polar Plungers Raise Money for Special Olympics." FOX 9 Feb. 2013.
Fox13. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. <http://fox13now.com/2013/02/09/polar-plungers-raise-money-forspecial-olympics/>.
"Special Olympics." Wikipedia. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Olympics#Criticism>.
"Special Olympics Mission." Specialolympics.org. Special Olympics, 18 Jan. 2013. Web.
12 Oct. 2014. <http://www.specialolympics.org/mission.aspx>.
White, Christy. "Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Hits Significant
Milestone: Raising $500 Million." Specialolympics.org. 18 Sept. 2014. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.specialolympics.org/Press/2014/Law_Enforcement_Torch_Run_Hits_500_Million.a
spx>.