Inclusion is such a hot topic these days. Doesn t Special Olympics separate, and even stigmatize athletes from their peers?
There are several ways to look at this issue. One response is to look at whether the athlete is capable of participating successfully in mainstream sports activities at this time. In some cases, an athlete may feel more stigmatized in a mainstream sports program if he or she is teased or ignored for weaker sports skills or atypical behavior. In many cases, Special Olympics can be a good “training ground” to build an athlete s sports skills, interpersonal abilities, and confidence to prepare him or her to become involved in mainstream sports. Special Olympics offers an environment that is safe, positive, and motivational. Many Special Olympics programs do have inclusive options such as Unified Sports®, and these programs might be very appropriate for some athletes. In Unified Sports®, the athletes with mental retardation can learn from and build friendships from their teammates who do not have intellectual disabilities. Most family members say that their worries about a Special Olympics
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