Volunteering with Special Olympics

Volunteering with Special Olympics has always been something in the back of my mind to try. I have never been an athletic or competitive person so I never really thought that I would find a sport that I could volunteer with. Not everyone believes it is a sport, but bowling is the only thing I have skill in and enjoy doing. I began volunteering as a bowling coach when I was a teenager, and I am glad to have had that experience. It came into good use when I decided I would start to volunteer with special Olympics.

I first began my career working in residential group homes with adults that were developmentally disabled. That was the first time I got to see what special Olympics can really do for those involved. The company I worked for at the time had adults that were involved in softball. It was so nice to see the adults go out of the building and engage in something they enjoyed. Win or lose they did not care, they only cared about getting to play the sport. The company I went to next as a behavior specialist specifically asked me in my interview if when I came on board could I plan special events for the residents. This was something that made me immediately think of special Olympics and I agreed immediately. I love to plan events and I also got to partake in some fun things. The best was seeing how happy my clients were though. Their happiness in getting to go to all these different places meant everything to me.

After a few months of successful events with no behaviors from any clients I decided to research special Olympics and see if there was any sport I could coach or any other way I could volunteer. That is how I found they have bowling. Once I got approval from my supervisor everything happened fast. One thing I found interesting was how competitive it was. There were competitions and everything at the end of the season. I was given the choice of starting my own team with the company I worked for or being paired with a team. I decided to try it with my company, and it was honestly one of my favorite things I have ever done.

I secured a bowling alley where the manager and front desk staff were amazing. The front desk staff donated trophies to us at the end out of the blue. He was the nicest person and ill never forget his generosity. It was not easy at first to encourage the houses to bring the clients, but I had the best support system. Also, once the staff saw how involved I was with the team they came with little encouragement and looked forward to it as much as the clients did.

My clients were not good at all and I mostly coached them so they would not get injured, but I could not have cared less about their score. It was the joy on their faces and the fun they were having. Each week during the season my clients would ask me if we were going bowling that weekend. It was such a surprise how much they enjoyed it. They were social during the games and able to see friends from other houses and staff. I had staff bowl with us too which they all thoroughly enjoyed. My parents came each weekend which my clients absolutely loved. It meant a lot they came, and they got to see what I actually did. Being able to share something with my clients that I loved meant a lot to me. I gave up my time one sat a week for three months to be around my clients that I adored and engage in an activity I Ioved. It was perfect and at the end of the season we had a party too. I gave them all their trophies and we got to dance and have fun. It lasted for one season but gave me memories I will cherish for my whole life. I will volunteer with special Olympics again, its already planned for when I finish school. Special Olympics has earned its name not for the clients it serves but for the special memories it gives those clients and volunteers.