Special Olympics Washington

Mission

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Description

We are a catalyst for inclusion! Special Olympics Washington is the leader in sports, inclusive health, and community building, empowering children and adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) to be valued on and off the playing field.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, almost 12,000 participants across Washington State take part in our programs at no cost to them. Not only do our incredible athletes train and compete in Olympic-type sports, they also have the opportunity to join our Athlete Leadership Program, get an early start at enhancing their self-esteem and physical development through our Young Athletes Program, and participate alongside individuals without ID through our Unified Sports programs.

Our athletes also receive free and comprehensive health screenings through our groundbreaking Healthy Athletes Program. People with ID are one of the largest and most medically underserved populations. Because of a range of systemic challenges, including inadequate provider training and inaccessible facilities, they have less access to quality health care and health promotion programs. As a result, they experience dramatically higher rates of preventable disease, chronic pain and suffering, and premature death. Sadly, these inequities have been amplified during the coronavirus pandemic.

YOU can help change this story. Donors like you are transforming the lives of our athletes on and off the playing field. This is your chance to give BIG for a more inclusive world!