Special Olympics DC

12/29/2020

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE – Donate spare change to Wawa's coin canisters or round-up to the nearest dollar at Wawa's registers through Feb. 21 to help support our #SpecialOlympics athletes! #Wawa #BeAGameChanger #SODCPlunge

12/21/2020

What’s big and round and wet all over? The swimming pool we plunged in back on February 1st of this year! How things have changed since then. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the 2021 Polar Plunge will be virtual. That means each person will take their own plunge in any way that’s meaningful for them. Jump in a lake, take an ice dip in your bathtub, make a snow angel in your swim trunks or costume, or take the leap to do something else you’ve never done before. Challenge yourself and get others to follow your lead, all to support SODC athletes!

Take your plunge anytime between January 1st and Valentine’s Day, February 14th, and send in your video to compete for prizes. The Virtual Polar Plunge celebration will be on February 26th, 2021. Start a team and register today: https://give.specialolympicsdc.org/event/2021-dc-polar-plunge/e304537?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2

12/11/2020

We’re still dreaming about last week’s #nightoftreesgalasodc and the wonderful community members who attended to support our SODC athletes. 2020 was a challenging year, but the commitment of our Special Olympics community has been unwavering in ensuring that amidst so much uncertainty SODC can continue to support our athletes. This holiday season and always, you deserve our deepest gratitude ❤️. #choosetoinclude #sodc #gmachristmastree

12/04/2020

Join us tonight for our annual Night of Trees Gala! The event is named for custom-designed trees by local designers. What a wonderful night to support our DC athletes.

Visit sodcgala.org for more information and to register! We can't wait to see you there. 🎄

11/17/2020

It's time to bring your furry friend with you on your #SONAStride activities 🐾! Share a picture of you and your pet staying active!Don't forget: you need to tell us how far you walked, ran or rolled in your wheelchair last week. Do it here #linkinbio

11/11/2020

This week is the halfway point of #SONAStride and we want you to celebrate by wearing your wackiest tie dye during your activities! ⠀
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Don't forget: you need to tell us how far you walked, ran or rolled in your wheelchair last week. #linkinbio

11/04/2020

We're already on week 3️⃣ of #SONAStride! Can you believe it?! This week, we challenge you to represent your favorite sports team while you're walking, running or rolling your wheelchair! ⠀
Don't forget: you need to tell us how far you walked, ran or rolled in your wheelchair last week. #linkinbio

10/29/2020

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Our Special Olympics athletes with Down syndrome learn skills through sports, then share those lessons at home, with friends, and in the workplace. They are proving how welcoming and meaningful our world can be when we practice inclusion.

Today SODC celebrates Makhi Nelson and his mom, Larniece for organizing a community walk to celebrate and spread awareness about Down syndrome. Makhi's shirt says, "Just busy rockin' my awesome extra chromosome." 😎

This month, and all year long, let's celebrate the ingenuity people with disabilities bring into our lives and spread messages of love, acceptance, inclusion, and respect. #ChooseToInclude #SODC

10/26/2020

Things are getting spooky this week with #SONAStride! Your weekly challenge is to wear something inspired by Halloween 🎃 or your favorite superhero! ⠀
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‼️ Don't forget: you need to tell us how far you walked, ran or rolled in your wheelchair last week. Do it here:
http://ow.ly/xvYb50C2Wo3
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❓Want to be sure your activities show up on your Program's Strava Club leaderboard? Tell Strava you're running, even if you're walking or rolling!

10/21/2020

Our athletes learn skills through sports, then share those lessons at home, with friends, & in the workplace. They are proving how welcoming & meaningful our world can be. when we practice inclusion.

In Jimmy's community, there is strong stigma around children born with intellectual disabilities, which made growing up difficult for him. Now, he is seen as an accomplished role model & proof that Inclusion Works! Join Jimmy's community & #ChooseToInclude & sign the @SpecialOlympics Inclusion Pledge ➡️http://ow.ly/UMEG50BYtev

10/20/2020

Join us and @SONorthAmerica for a LIVE virtual event – Generation Unified 2020: Meaningful Inclusion in a Virtual Classroom!, Educators, parents, and coaches can see all the ways that SOUCS can be done virtually! Tune in with the #UnifiedGeneration on 10/20 at 7PM ET today: bit.ly/33IGosa

10/19/2020

🎉The #SONAStride Challenge starts right now! 🎉 ⠀
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Join the 8-week distance challenge to walk, run, or roll in a wheelchair. Want to make #SONAStride even more fun? Join our weekly challenge! ⠀
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👕Up first: wear your favorite Special Olympics gear during your walk, run or roll & send us a picture! ⠀
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Are you joining the #SONAStride Challenge? Tell us in the comments! 👇

10/06/2020

Special Olympics

Special Olympics

Though he might not be able to see our athletes in person right now, WWE Superstar Big Show is hanging virtually! See what happened when he showed up to surprise Special Olympics South Carolina athlete Tina Cook!

Learn more about Big Show's longstanding commitment to our movement ➡️ https://j.mp/2GAXHma. #ChooseToInclude

09/04/2020

What to avoid to protect your bones:
-- Too much salt causes calcium loss and bone breakdown. Eat fewer packaged foods, fast foods, and processed meats.
-- Avoid alcohol as it makes it hard for your body to absorb calcium.
-- Tobacco and nicotine increase the chance of bone fractures and slow healing of broken bones.
-- Replace sugary drinks with water, milk or orange juice with added calcium and vitamin D.
-- Limit time watching TV, working on a computer, and playing video games.

08/25/2020

Water- Just Drink It!
- Drink water before, during and after your workout or sport practice.
- Fill a container with water and keep in the refrigerator. Add a few slices of fruit or cucumber or mint for a refreshing cool drink.
- Make water your number one beverage to drink.
- Drink water instead of sugar sweetened beverages.

How many bottles of water did you have today?

08/25/2020

Water to the Rescue—Prevent Dehydration
- Watch for the signs of dehydration. Talk to your coach if you think you are dehydrated.
- Don’t wait until you are thirsty for a drink, drink water before, during and after your workout or sport practice.
- Did you know that dehydration of 1-2 % of your body weight can decrease your sport performance?
- Drinking the right amount of water is important for your health and can help your sport performance.

08/14/2020

Quick Tip— Nutritious Meals! Try these grab and go ready to eat meal tips:
- Keep a bowl of fruit on the table or counter.
- Keep cut-up fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator at eye level.
- Eat the rainbow of colors-mix the red, green, orange and yellow foods.
- Fruits dried, frozen, and canned (in water or 100% juice) as well as fresh, all count. Always have a choice on hand.
- Include a fruit or vegetable at every meal and between meals.
- Add vegetables to soups, stews, and sauces.
- Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Fresh, canned and frozen count. Add a fruit or vegetable to your breakfast choice.
- At least half your grains should be whole grains. Try brown rice or whole wheat pasta.

08/13/2020

Special Olympics DC and Georgetown University presents the first Black Lives Matter virtual forum! Join us August 14th at 4PM and listen to the experiences of black athletes navigating the waters of being an athlete and being black. All are welcomed to join the discussion.

08/06/2020

Special Olympics

What’s your favorite song to listen to when you need to really get in the zone?

See what songs get our athletes & Unified partners pumped up by listening to our Champions playlist, launched last week on Pandora ➡️ https://pandora.app.link/SpecialOlympics. #InclusionRevolution

07/31/2020

IT.mp4

We are creating an #InclusionRevolution because together we can achieve more -- much more! Thank you to our teachers who have gone above & beyond to make inclusion one of the many lessons they teach! Join us as we celebrate Champions of Inclusion with @SpecialOlympics athletes around the world!

07/27/2020

Our athletes know the pain of isolation and exclusion far too well. Together we have the power to change the future for all. Join us & come together for inclusion:
JointheRevolution.org/pledge #InclusionRevolution

07/26/2020

Today on the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act we celebrate the achievements that have been made but we also re-commit ourselves to transforming our society into one that is equal and equitable for everyone. #InclusionRevolution #ADA30

07/22/2020

Embracing the differences of someone else is key to creating inclusion. #ChooseToInclude

07/20/2020

Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics on this day 52 years ago with a vision for equality & inclusion. While much has been accomplished since 1968, there is still a lot of work to be done in breaking down barriers of exclusion for all. #ChooseToInclude

07/15/2020

Special Olympics

Over the last few weeks, we have been working to rededicate our efforts to the unfinished business of equity, diversity & inclusion at every level of our organization.

Through a new series called "Conversations of Inclusion", we hope to spark meaningful conversation, learn from the experiences of our athletes, and create change, through the responses we receive from you! #ChooseToInclude

07/01/2020

SODC is sincerely grateful for the support of @johnwall and the @jwfamilyfoundation. We appreciate all you do for our athletes and look forward to one of our favorite events every year- our unified basketball game with the @washwizards! #inclusionrevolution #respect #10yearsofcaring

06/11/2020

“My mother is a different race than I am, but that doesn’t matter to me, because she loves me for who I am and has never shown racism. When I was little a cashier thought I stole gloves. Another time, I almost got taken in handcuffs because I looked like a suspect. I was just reading a magazine. My mother has always had my back and I realized when I was young how important it was that I had someone in my life, who would always be there.
I have been thanking people who have my back and respect my culture and race. Because I have a disability and am a minority, I think inclusion can help create a better world. I think by bringing together the positive energy coming from people of other races, we can get to a positive outcome. This is a big moment and people are going through it differently, but we can get through together.” –Anovia Novie Craven, Athlete, Novie Nov Craven

06/10/2020

Special Olympics pushes forward with the unfinished business of equity, diversity and inclusion

Special Olympics pushes forward with the unfinished business of equity, diversity and inclusion

To the Special Olympics Family,

06/04/2020

Special Olympics

06/04/2020

Special Olympics

Special Olympics

"Special Olympics is a movement driven by a restless dissatisfaction with the status quo. Today, we are in solidarity with our athletes, leaders, and brothers and sisters of color who have suffered unjustly for centuries in the United States. We come to this moment of outrage with humility, recognizing our need to learn and change. In our founding summer of 1968, our leaders channeled decades of anger, pain and oppression into a radical experience of dignity and justice for people with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport. Sport brings people together. Sport teaches dignity. Sport reveals that everyone has gifts. Sport brings us relationships, health and power.

Today, the work continues: our athletes, families, volunteers, and allies around the world continue to work without rest for an inclusion revolution—a world where the dignity of every single one of our athletes is seen, respected, valued and welcomed. We renew our pledge to this vision of dignity and renew our commitment to changing ourselves so that we can identify and remove the stain of racism within and around us wherever and whenever it appears. We will never shrink from the work of transforming injustice into a world of justice and joy." -Chairman Tim Shriver

06/01/2020

2020 Summer Games Go Virtual!

Due to COVID-19, we had to cancel our Summer Games,
but we invite our athletes to compete virtually in the
2020 Summer Games at home! There are 11 safe events you can participate in at home while still competing with other athletes in the DC area.

Learn more and register here: https://specialolympicsdc.org/sports/games-and-competitions/summer-games/

05/22/2020

Join one of our favorite Unified Partners Philip Coppage for a live workout to kick off Memorial Day weekend!

What better way to start Memorial Day weekend than with a Facebook Live workout with our very own Philip Coppage!

We can't wait to see everyone at 5:30!

05/21/2020

Special Olympics North America

Don’t miss these opportunities as well as our 3rd workout with BOKS led by U.S. Youth Ambassador Alex from Special Olympics Virginia

05/21/2020

Special Olympics North America

Tomorrow, we've got our THIRD workout in collaboration with BOKS. Be sure to check out U.S. Youth Ambassador Alex from Special Olympics Virginia for a basketball inspired workout!

05/18/2020

Congratulations to our 2020 Graduates! We are so proud of you.

Congratulations to our 2020 Graduates! We are so proud of you.