WASHINGTON, D.C. – Special Olympics athletes and advocates from across the United States converged on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Feb. 12 for Special Olympics’ annual “Capitol Hill Day.” This is the 17th year Special Olympics has organized the event, with more than 250 delegates representing 44 states and the District of Columbia.
Special Olympics athletes held more than 300 face-to-face meetings with members of Congress in both the House and Senate, inviting their elected officials to partner with them to expand Special Olympics Unified Sports and Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools. The meetings served to educate lawmakers about the need to end health care and education disparities and discrimination against roughly 1 percent of the U.S. population with intellectual disabilities. The goals of Capitol Hill Day were to convey the high impact of Special Olympics’ evidence-based programming that addresses these issues.
Special Olympics Iowa was represented by athlete leader Adam Rininger. While in Washington, D.C., Rininger had meetings with Iowa Representatives Cindy Axne, Abby Finkenauer, Steve King and Dave Loebsack. He also met with Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst. Rininger spoke about his experiences with Special Olympics and advocated for himself and the 14,000 Iowa athletes.
“No one can better articulate a vision for a more inclusive America or demonstrate how a nation can unite as one than the athletes and Unified partners of Special Olympics,” said Tim Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics. “Our athletes and youth leaders will lead us in the Inclusion Revolution, our collective fight to end discrimination for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). But we can’t do it alone. We need governmental support to preserve laws guaranteeing the rights and full participation and integration of people with intellectual disabilities into our society.”
Capitol Hill Day would not be possible without Johnson & Johnson’s continued support. Their on-going commitment allows Special Olympics delegates from across the nation to travel to Washington, D.C., and receive comprehensive training and education to best prepare them for an effective and successful Capitol Hill Day.
“Johnson & Johnson prioritizes health and wellness for all people. We are honored to partner with Special Olympics during their Capitol Hill Day,” said Jane M. Adams, vice president of Federal Government Affairs, Johnson & Johnson. “Effective advocacy is essential to raise awareness with elected officials and to secure public policy efforts to promote Special Olympics’ mission and commitment to important health programs.”
In more than 6,000 Unified Champion Schools across the country, Special Olympics has trained youth leaders and educators to create inclusive schools. Students with and without ID are playing and competing together through Special Olympics Unified Sports. These experiences help increase acceptance of all abilities in classrooms and are reducing stigma and bullying.
Special Olympics offers free health events where Special Olympics athletes receive health screenings and education, and where health professionals are trained to offer health access to people with ID. Over the past 20-plus years in the U.S. alone, Special Olympics provided more than 900,000 health screenings and trained more than 98,000 health care professionals.
For every dollar provided by U.S. federal funds to the Special Olympics Health program, the organization is able to leverage additional funds from private individuals and organizations. Public and private support is critical to sustaining Special Olympics’ ability to continue to offer these programs to participants at no cost.
Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA), a statewide nonprofit organization, provides high-quality training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in all 99 counties of Iowa. SOIA offers 23 Olympic-style sports to more than 13,000 athletes and Unified Sports partners year-round.
Since 1968, Special Olympics has provided an inclusive culture that stresses athletic excellence, rewards determination, emphasizes health and celebrates personal achievement. Through Special Olympics sports training and competition, children and adults with intellectual disabilities reach their full potential and experience inclusion in their communities every day.