WASHINGTON D.C. – Special Olympics athletes, organization leaders, Unified Sports® partners, and family members from across the United States and the District of Columbia are converging on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. from Feb. 13-15 for Special Olympics’ annual “Capitol Hill Day.” This is the 21st year Special Olympics has organized the event, which includes over 260 delegates representing 47 states and the District of Columbia.
Special Olympics athletes will lead more than 250 face-to-face meetings with members of Congress in both the House and Senate, inviting their elected officials to partner with them to support inclusive education and health initiatives for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® programming is in over 8,300 schools across the United States, with a goal of being in 10,000 schools by 2024. Special Olympics is out to erase health disparities for people with ID. Through free health screenings and training current and future healthcare providers, Special Olympics is ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities get follow-up care when and where they need it.
Special Olympics athletes, serving as self-advocates, will educate lawmakers and their staff about the stigma faced by people with ID, and how high-impact and cost-effective Special Olympics programming in sports, health, and education can reduce discrimination. The advocates will also request continued support from legislators for evidence-based programming that benefits all Americans, regardless of ability.
Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) sent five delegates to Washington D.C. this week.
President & CEO Larry Linthacum | from Jefferson City
Athlete and Board Member Anna McDaniel | from Columbia
Athlete, Staff Member and Global Messenger Allen Tobin | from Kansas City
Longtime Coach, Supporter and SOMO Hall of Fame Member Mark Bussen | from St. Louis
Unified Champion Schools Manager Emma Thomas | from Columbia
These five individuals have important meetings scheduled throughout the first part of this week, and they are very excited to share our message.
“I am looking forward to advocating for our SOMO athletes, the bravest and most courageous athletes on this planet,” SOMO President & CEO Larry Linthacum said.” Capitol Hill Day gives us an opportunity to share how current funding is benefitting our athletes, but we need more funding to make this world an even better place.”
Allen Tobin – a SOMO athlete, staff member and global messenger – knows firsthand how important it is to receive the proper funding.
“I am really excited to come be a part of Capitol Hill Day to talk to all of the Missouri legislators,” Tobin said. “My favorite part is seeing old friends and making new friends. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be back in the Capitol advocating for continued funding for Healthy Athletes because the program helped me get the glasses and hearing aids I needed.”
Tobin has received free glasses and hearing aids on multiple occasions through Special Olympics, most recently at the 2022 USA Games in Orlando, Fla.
“Special Olympics athletes and youth leaders continue to lead us in a worldwide revolution of inclusion, a collective fight to end discrimination for people with intellectual disabilities,” Chairman of Special Olympics Tim Shriver said.
Shriver added, “The U.S. government’s support is an essential part of this collaborative fight, not only to help fund critical programming but to also preserve laws guaranteeing the rights and full participation and integration of people with intellectual disabilities into our society.”
In more than 8,300 Unified Champion Schools across the country, Special Olympics has trained and mobilized youth leaders and educators to create more inclusive schools by including students with ID in all aspects of school life. Social inclusion is promoted by bringing together young people with and without ID on sports teams (Special Olympics Unified Sports®), through inclusive student clubs, and by fostering youth leadership. As many as 19.5 million young people are taking part in these experiences, which are increasing acceptance of people of all abilities while simultaneously reducing stigma and bullying.
Digitized records show that since 2016, Special Olympics has trained over 70,000 healthcare professionals and students, and completed over 200,000 health screenings. Globally, over the past 25 years, Special Olympics has conducted over two million health screenings, and trained over 300,000 health professionals.
The results are striking:
Young adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics are half as likely to be diagnosed with depression as those who do not participate.
Special Olympics athletes who participate in Special Olympics fitness programming experience improved blood pressure, with those at high-risk for cardiovascular disease seeing the greatest improvement.
In addition to federal U.S. government funding, Special Olympics also receives funds from private foundations, corporations and individuals. Public and private support is critical for Special Olympics to offer education and health programming to participants at no cost.
Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) is a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Thousands of athletes participate in 16 Olympic-type sports throughout the state. SOMO provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with their fellow athletes, their family and friends, and communities across Missouri.
SOMO is proud of our financial health, returning 78% of every dollar back to program services. We are privileged to be recognized with these honors: Better Business Bureau A+ Charity Accreditation, Guidestar Gold Level and Charity Navigator 4-star rating. Special Olympics was also recently named Morning Consult’s No. 4 most trusted nonprofit.
Thank you for trusting us with your donations, volunteer time and your goodwill.
Visit Special Olympics Missouri at www.somo.org. Engage with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
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Andrew Kauffman | Marketing & Communications Director | Special Olympics Missouri
305 Special Olympics Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65101 | P: 480.695.0592
www.somo.org | Kauffman@somo.org
BBB A+ Rating | Charity Navigator 4-star Rated Charity | Guidestar Gold Level | Morning Consult No. 4 Most Trusted Nonprofit
Special Olympics Missouri is proud to return 78% of every dollar directly to program services.