Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Ask God -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Graystone who wrote (35501)	8/5/2003 6:31:44 AM
From: 2MAR$	Respond to of 39621

God loves Pagan Rituals ----> Special Olympics Celebrates 35 Years of Empowering Individuals with Mental Retardation Tue Jul 22, 1:04 PM ET ** And God is an Irishman ! specialolympics.org To: National Desk Contact: Arlene Whittick of Special Olympics North America, 202-824-0395 or awhittick@specialolympics.org WASHINGTON, July 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Special Olympics commemorated 35 years of service to children and adults with mental retardation on July 20th. Special Olympics was founded on the principles that individuals with mental retardation can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy, and benefit from participation in individual team sports. Special Olympics has evolved into a movement firmly dedicated not to charity, but to empowerment and dignity. Through initiatives such as SO Get Into It, Healthy Athletes, and Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs), Special Olympics offers athletes the chance to learn and grow as coaches, officials, spokespeople and leaders; improve athletes' health and fitness; and encourage school-age youth to celebrate differences and break down barriers. Yet, according to The Multinational Study of Attitudes toward Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, the general population lacks an appreciation of the range of capabilities of individuals with intellectual disabilities, and therefore have low expectations of how much people with mental disabilities can achieve. The study also revealed that the world still believes individuals with intellectual disabilities should work and learn in separate settings, apart from people without disabilities Commissioned by Special Olympics, the two-year study, led by Dr. Gary Siperstein of the University of Massachusetts Boston, is the largest and most comprehensive study ever conducted on this subject, reporting how people across the world view the roles and capabilities of persons with intellectual disabilities in the workplace, the classroom and in daily social life. The Multinational Study of Attitudes toward Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities was conducted in 10 countries across the world, with 8,000 persons responding and was presented as part of the 2003 Scientific Symposium, held in association with the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland. "The only way to overcome this pervasive ignorance is through more aggressive program development that reaches more prospective athletes and provides more competitions at the grassroots community-based level," said Jim Schmutz, Managing Director, Special Olympics North America. "Through this strategy we will require more family support, community leader and volunteer support, along with financial support. This penetration and resulting exposure will provide a broad based platform from which we can change the way people think about our athletes. The athletes and their diligent efforts speak for themselves, after thirty-five years the message remains the same, 'Respect me, just respect me and give me a chance to show you who I really am and what I can really do." Special Olympics has set a goal to add 1 million new athletes by 2005. This can and will be achieved through the continued support of thousands of volunteers, families, sports leaders, health care providers, educators, government and business leaders. About Special Olympics: Special Olympics Inc. is an international organization dedicated to empowering children and adults with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics offers individuals with intellectual disabilities free year-round training and competition in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. More than 1 million athletes in 150 countries around the world currently participate in Special Olympics (there is no charge to participate in Special Olympics). For more information, please visit us on the web at specialolympics.org. usnewswire.com