Healthy Athletes

Special Olympics Louisiana’ Healthy Athletes program currently offers health screenings in six areas: Fit Feet (podiatry), FUNfitness (physical therapy), Health Promotion (better health and well-being), Healthy Hearing (audiology),  Opening Eyes (vision) and Special Smiles (dentistry). Healthy Athletes organizes its events in a welcoming, fun environment. Its screenings educate athletes on healthy lifestyle choices and identify problems that may need additional follow-up.

Click on the discipline to learn more:
Fit Feet
FUN Fitness
Health Promotion
Healthy Hearing 
Opening Eyes
Special Smiles

Want to learn more about Healthy Athletes? Contact us.

Find out more information here.

State Fall Classic

 

 

State Fall Classic will be held October 19th-21st this year and hosts aquatics, horseshoes, and softball events. The Aquatics meet is held at the Robichaux Recreation Center in Lafayette, LA and horseshoes and softball tournaments are held in Carencro, LA at Pelican Park.

Volunteers are needed! Click here to sign up!

Find our Facebook event page here!

August Athlete Spotlight

NAME: Logan Dahlquist

HOMETOWN: Lafayette, LA

SPORT: Softball

AGE: 23

YEARS INVOLVED: 5

Q: How would you describe yourself?A: I am leader and team player. I enjoy seeing others succeed. My heart is big and my desire to make a difference is very important.

Q: Have you ever attended World or National Games?                                                        A: Competing at the USA Games in Seattle, WA was my first time and I am proud of my teammates. We placed 3rd and received bronze medals.

Q: How did you prepare for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games?                                A: I focused on healthy eating, gym workouts, jogging, practice at batting cages, and throwing.

Q: How has Special Olympics changed your life?                                                                   A: Five years ago I joined Special Olympics and really just knew that I loved sports, but the moment that changed my life is when I became friends with this amazing group of people that I now call family. I am blessed to be surrounded by these people who bring the best out in me. Special Olympics is my life.

 

Unified Champion Schools

The Unified Champion Schools approach incorporates Special Olympics sports and related activities while enhancing the youth experience and empowering them to be change agents in their communities. This requires a shift in current programs and paradigms from a focus on events to committing to a movement advocating for youth as leaders. This programming promotes social inclusion in schools to ensure special education and general education students are equitably engaged. Teachers and students are encouraged to collaborate and create supportive classrooms, activities and opportunities.

Students should be encouraged and supported to be agents of change, have opportunities to be leaders, and participate in collaborative school activities. To achieve this, school leaders and educators must foster a socially inclusive school climate that emphasizes acceptance, respect and human dignity for all students. A socially inclusive school is a place where no student is excluded because of the degree or type of disability or the services required to meet his/her needs.

For more information click here.

 

50th Anniversary

Since 1968, Special Olympics Louisiana has been changing attitudes about the talents of people with intellectual disabilities. Since 1968, Special Olympics has been changing the world! Starting in 2018, we are celebrating 50 years of creating a more inclusive, welcoming world for all. Join us — and Change the Game!

We are asking our supporters to pledge $50 to Special Olympics Louisiana in honor of our 50th Anniversary. You may be a part of our past and now we want you to become part of our future! Your donations and efforts will build inclusive and healthy communities, empower our athletes to become leaders of change, and provide a chance to know the true benefit of sports and athletic competition through participation in the Special Olympics program.

Young Athletes

With the generous support of the Mattel Children’s Foundation, the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program is an innovative sports play program designed to introduce children with intellectual disabilities to the world of sports prior to their Special Olympics competition eligibility.

Designed for children ages 2 through 7, the Young Athletes Program is designed to strengthen physical development and self-esteem by building skills for future sports participation and socialization. These skills can also help increase the participant’s motor tracking and eye-hand coordination. The program encourages families to become involved as the child learns success through physical activity, all while connecting with their intellectually disabled child in unique ways.

Find out more about the program here.

Camp Shriver- Lafayette

Camp Shriver Lafayette will take place Monday, June 18th, through Friday, June 22nd, from 9am-2pm. This camp will feature athletes and partners from the Evangeline, St. Landry, Acadia, Lafayette, Vermillion, Iberia, St. Martin, and St. Mary Areas.

Camp Shriver brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities for training and competition each summer.  The primary goals are to provide another level of challenge and promote inclusion.

To learn more about Camp Shriver and to register, please speak with your area coordinator.

 

Unified Champion Schools

The Unified Champion Schools approach incorporates Special Olympics sports and related activities while enhancing the youth experience and empowering them to be change agents in their communities. This requires a shift in current programs and paradigms from a focus on events to committing to a movement advocating for youth as leaders. This programming promotes social inclusion in schools to ensure special education and general education students are equitably engaged. Teachers and students are encouraged to collaborate and create supportive classrooms, activities and opportunities.

Students should be encouraged and supported to be agents of change, have opportunities to be leaders, and participate in collaborative school activities. To achieve this, school leaders and educators must foster a socially inclusive school climate that emphasizes acceptance, respect and human dignity for all students. A socially inclusive school is a place where no student is excluded because of the degree or type of disability or the services required to meet his/her needs.

For more information click here.

Camp Shriver- Baton Rouge

Join us the week of June 4th through the 8th for Camp Shriver Baton Rouge! This is a wonderful opportunity for all athletes to learn new sports skills, improve their existing skills, and make lasting friendships.  It begins at 9 a.m. and is located at the First Church of the Nazarene in Baton Rouge.

Contact us to register at 985-345-6644. Find out more the details here.

Camp Shriver

 Camp Shriver is back again this summer! Join us at one of the camps listed below!

Camp Shriver Baton Rouge

June 4-8, 2018

First Church of the Nazerene

9955 Old Hammond Highway

Baton Rouge, LA 70816.

Camp Shriver Jefferson
June 6-8
Ree Alario Center
6900 Saints Dr
Metairie, LA 70003
This camp will feature athletes from the Bayouland area. Learn more about Camp Shriver. Please contact your area management team to register.

Camp Shriver Northwest
Princess Park (Shreveport, LA)
Camp Shriver Shreveport will take place Tuesday June 12th through Thursday June 14th from 9am-3pm. This camp will feature athletes and partners from the Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Cenla, and Red River Areas. To learn more about Camp Shriver and to register, please speak with your area coordinator.

Camp Shriver Lafayette

Heymann Recreational Center (Lafayette, LA)

Camp Shriver Lafayette will take place Monday, June 18th, through Friday, June 22nd,  from 9am-2pm. This camp will feature athletes and partners from the Evangeline, St. Landry, Acadia, Lafayette, Vermillion, Ibera, St. Martin, and St. Mary Areas. To learn more about Camp Shriver and to register, please speak with your area coordinator.

To learn more about Camp Shriver and to register, please click here.