Since 1968, Special Olympics has striven to give people with intellectual and development disabilities, the chance to find joy through sports. Their approach includes year-long training and olympic style competitions for children and adults with IDDs. 

The program is holding a bowling competition for students on campus with disabilities on Thursday. Throughout the day, members of partners PE and Best Buddies will be helping assist students.

Special education teacher Alice Furth believes that the competition gives her students an opportunity to feel valued and included in their high school experience.

“For me one of the most memorable things was seeing our kids get greeted by some of their former teachers… and I think that was really special for them,” Furth said. “Every student has the right to participate to contribute to their high school experience in a meaningful way and I think that my students aren’t any different, they like to compete, they like to win, and they like to socialize with their peers from other campuses, and I don’t think that is different from any other students.”

Participating in the event is something that Best Buddies campus president, Caroline Caruso looks forward to every year. 

“Seeing them able to put [weeks of practice] to use at an event and seeing how proud they are of themselves and each other is really rewarding,” Caruso said. “[The competition] gives people with disabilities on campus a voice and represents them… by highlighting their efforts to the whole school.”