Special Olympics has been a great advocate for individuals with intellectual disabilities for more than 50 years. Even with the progress made there are still obstacles for these athletes. We discussed person-first language earlier this semester, as well as Aimee’s powerful speech about the language we use, and now the campaign to Spread the Word to End the Word in this week’s Power Point. Why do you believe this population of people are often thought of as inferior or different? You can see in Andy’s profile that he is a typical American male. He has a job, a girlfriend, and competes in swimming.

I would like for you to discuss some of the misconceptions you have heard or thought yourself about the Special Olympics. What did you know or think about the Special Olympics before this class? What do you think now? (1-2 paragraphs)

Link for videos for discussion