Special Olympics Vermont

SPECIAL OLYMPICS VERMONT (SOVT) CONTRIBUTES TO THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES PRIMARILY THROUGH ATHLETIC TRAINING AND COMPETITIONS.

TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION, SPECIAL OLYMPICS VERMONT: CONTRIBUTES TO THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THROUGH SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCES IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PERSONAL WELLNESS, AND SPORTS, OUR ATHLETES GAIN CONFIDENCE AND BUILD POSITIVE SELF-IMAGES, WHICH FOLLOW THEM INTO THEIR HOMES, CLASSROOMS, JOBS AND COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THE WORK OF DEDICATED STAFF AND NEARLY 1,000 GENEROUS VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY, SOVT CONDUCTS A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF ITS MISSION. ** HOSTED YEAR-ROUND ATHLETIC, FITNESS, AND HOLISTIC HEALTH PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TO SUPPORT 26 COMMUNITY-BASED AND 78 SCHOOL-BASED ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, WHICH TRAIN ATHLETES AND UNIFIED PARTNERS. ** CELEBRATING SCHOOLS WHO MAY BE NAMED AN ESPN NATIONAL BANNER UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL WHEN SELECTED BY SPECIAL OLYMPICS, INC. ** CONTINUED TO BUILD INCLUSIVE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES THROUGH "UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS" PROGRAMS AND COLLABORATION WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS INCORPORATED (SOI) AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. ** OFFERED INCLUSIVE PLAY-BASED PROGRAMS FOR "YOUNG ATHLETES" AGES 2-7, TO INTRODUCE YOUNG CHILDREN TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND TO ENHANCE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. ** SUPPORTED ATHLETES AS BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SPOKESPEOPLE, AND ADVOCATES FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS MOVEMENT. ** RECRUITED AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS FOR PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMMING AND FUNDRAISING EVENTS, INCLUDING OF COACHES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. ** ORDINARILY, A MAJORITY OF SOVT'S PROGRAMS ARE CONDUCTED IN PERSON. HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES SHIFTED PRIMARILY TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT STARTING IN MARCH 2020 AND CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SOVT'S STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS INVESTED SIGNIFICANT TIME AND ENERGY INTO DEVELOPING A VARIETY OF CREATIVE, NEW VIRTUAL PROGRAMS, WHICH PRIMARILY CONSISTED OF PROVIDING TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IN SPORT, FITNESS, AND INCLUSIVE HEALTH, AND A HOST OF OTHER RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE TO OVER 2,000 CHILDREN AND ADULT ATHLETES WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. ADDITIONALLY, SIGNIFICANT TIME AND ENERGY WAS SPENT IN PLANNING FOR A RETURN TO IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES, ONCE SAFE TO DO SO. CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF ALL PARTICIPANTS (ATHLETES, VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, AND THEIR COLLECTIVE COMMUNITIES), INCLUDING CONSULTATION WITH PHYSICIANS, AND VARIOUS EXPERTS AT THE STATE OF VERMONT AS CIRCUMSTANCES CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVED.