To provide year-round sports training and
athletic competition in a variety of
Olympic-type sports for all children and adults
with intellectual disabilities, giving them
continuing opportunities to develop physical
fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and
participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and
friendship with their families, other Special
Olympics athletes and the community.
TV Spot: Help Stop the Use of the "R"
Word:
Negative stereotype of people with intellectual
disabilities are kept alive when people use
demeaning words. Too often, please say "retard"
or "retarded" without thinking about the effects
these words have on others - even if it's not
meant in a mean way. If you are not sure how to
refer to someone with intellectual disabilities,
call them by their name. That's what they really
want: to be thought of no different from you or
me. You would be surprised they actually have
more in common with you than not...they like
music, dancing, talking about sports, movies -
just like you.
Intellectual disabilities know no boundaries.
They touch everyone. A person with an
intellectual disability could be your sister,
your brother, your neighbor, your teammate, your
classmate, your mentor, or your teacher. Most
importantly, a person with an intellectual
disability can be your friend.
Join Special Olympics Virginia and other
Special Olympics programs across the world as we
come together to eliminate the "R" word and take
responsibility for the power words have on
others.