Dear Friends,

Over the last two months, we celebrated several International Days of recognition like Down Syndrome Day, Autism Awareness Day. I was very excited to see so many activities put together across the region to highlight our support for these important occasions. In my excitement in the run up to one of these days, I was speaking to a young member of my family (who has to remain nameless) and asked: " Di d you know – Day is tomorrow?”, hoping it would spark a conversation and inspire a willingness to act.

I was instead greeted with a shrug (in a way that most teenagers will) and a benign reply: ” Yeah. I do. Cool.” before he returned to his omnipresent phone.

Initially I was flummoxed and a little bumped, but then I realized. This is the case for many people out there. They may be aware, but for many the conversation ends there, and that’s it. Awareness is just the first step, how then do we persist in piquing interest.

 

Humans aren’t by nature solitary creatures, they want a reason to group and that’s when they look into what gives them meaning and, from there, develop their common purpose, and build a community to rally around them.

Right now in the world sadly, we are being brought together by fear, grief and uncertainty. The pandemic does not discriminate, but those with access to vaccinations and healthcare are at a privilege. For many athletes in our movement, this access is something that they lack despite them being one of the most vulnerable groups. Many of the Special Olympics programs across our region are already appealing to policy makers in their respective countries to ensure people with intellectual disabilities are duly protected.

I am hopeful, with our resounding voice as a global community, we will convince the world of the importance of ensuring no person with intellectual disabilities is left behind - but I recognize that it needs strong and deliberate steps to not only draw attention to the issue but to encourage everyone to act.

As I reflected on my earlier conversation with the young man in my family, I realized too that I neglected to probe further. I could have asked him “Would you like to know more?”; “Would you want to see what the community is doing?”; “Would you like to take part in this activity?”

So my appeal to you today is to take a step further, make that same ask to friends, people or even strangers around you. Share with them our stories of pure grit and resilience, share with them what’s being done across the movement. Ask if they’d like to subscribe to our newsletter to stay connected, or indeed make a donation if they are able. So long as they choose to include, we’re bonded by our firm belief that people with intellectual disabilities should have the same opportunity to reach their fullest potential as anyone else.

May we continue to change the game and I hope you enjoy the read.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Dipak Natali
President & Managing Director
Special Olympics Asia Pacific

SPOTLIGHT ON AWARENESS DAYS

First up is #InternationalWomensDay that’s celebrated on the 8th of March. Did you know,  across the Asia Pacific region, more than 40% of Special Olympics athletes are female.

Get inspired by three extraordinary women - a leader, a mother, a survivor -- these are the stories of women who had so much light within them, they won the fight.

On March 21st,  we celebrated #WorldDownSyndromeDay by celebrating the achievements of people with Down Syndrome.

Be inspired by Special Olympics Bharat athlete Sahil Singh as he breaks the limits placed upon him, showing that people with intellectual disabilities are fully capable of making their own decisions and achieving their goals. Be encouraged by Special Olympics Pilipina’s Board Chairman Akiko Thomson who shares why having a child with Down Syndrome is a blessing. Be bowled over by Special Olympics Indonesia athlete Stephanie Handojo, who smashes stereotypes everyday. She is an accomplished pianist, swimmer, badminton player, public speaker, and more.

 
As we celebrate World Autism Awareness Day earlier this month, hear from athlete leaders Dacki Sandiego and Grace Payne, co-chairs of our Regional Athlete Input Council, as they share in their own words all we need to know about persons with autism - their talent, outlook and experiences.  

The Astom family from Special Olympics Pilipinas also shared their story of strength, "As a family, we go to movies, we travel, we go swimming. We are not limited in any way...To us, simple things may be less ordinary, but we cannot live our lives envying others."

 

To celebrate the occasion, Special Olympics Australia shared a six-part free online webinar series, "Autism Inclusion in Sport, Recreation and Physical Education" which provides simple and effective strategies encourage students with autism to play and enjoy sport.

As the world celebrates the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, we shine a spotlight on the inclusive power of sports where we believe there should be no barriers between people with or without intellectual disabilities on the sports field. We celebrate our differences and play as one team.

Finally, to wrap up the series on Awareness days, we have Siblings Day on 10 April. Athlete leader Ben Haack shares how his brother Mitch has supported him through his journey of growth. "Things can get very hard at times for a person with a disability, and that also impacts very deeply on the sibling. Siblings face major challenges. They face pressure to support their sibling to assimilate and have friends. They also feel tremendous guilt, especially when society tells them their sibling has no value. This constant discrimination makes things tough and painful."

RISK HIGHER FOR PWIDS: ALMOST 6 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM COVID-19 THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION

Intellectual disability puts individuals at higher risk of dying earlier in life than the general population, for a variety of medical and institutional reasons. A new study from Jefferson Health examined how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected this group, which makes up 1-3% of the US population. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Catalyst, found that intellectual disability was second only to older age as a risk factor for dying from COVID-19.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW ZEALAND

ATHLETE GUEST STARS ON

POWER RANGERS DINO FURY

“Working on ‘Power Rangers Dino Fury’ was the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m so grateful. I was proud to represent Special Olympics. I was so happy to be an advocate for people with disabilities in a TV show role. I have been doing Special Olympics in New Zealand for 11 years and can’t wait to tell you more after the show airs,” shares Sarah Dalton.

 

SPECIAL OLYMPICS AUSTRALIA STRENGTHENS YOUNG ATHLETES & GOLF PARTNERSHIPS

A Queensland Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant will fund and scale up to 20 Special Olympics Australia Young Athletes programs at gymnastics clubs, schools, and other community venues. This will allow 200 children, aged two to eight, to take part in the all-abilities programs free of charge.

 

Over a series of play-based sessions, specially trained coaches will teach children movements they will use in sports and daily life, such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching. The programs will also give children who experience developmental challenges the chance to develop the social skills they need to be active with others. Families will be given resources to encourage play at home and information about other inclusive programs, so children can continue to develop their social skills and make meaningful connections.

Golf Australia and Special Olympics Australia have also re-signed a three year memorandum of understanding, having worked together successfully since 2017 -  increasing the number of athletes participating in their golf programme and strengthen their personal wellbeing.

 

Special Olympics Global ambassador Padraig Harrington, a two-time Champion Golfer of the Year, has been among those to support activity, hosting clinics for golfers at a number of tournaments across the globe. With COVID-19 curtailing events in 2020, the Irishman has instead hosted an online masterclass for athletes/coaches.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS PILIPINAS

UNVEILS NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AND SIGNS MOU

Special Olympics Pilipinas will be led by a group of professionals who are deeply passionate in creating more opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and in helping make our society more inclusive.

 

They are, Gillian Akiko Thomson-Guevara (Board Chairman), Eduardo Martin Lichauco (Treasurer), Atty. Joseph Angelo Angel (Corporate Secretary), Alexander David Soriano (Board Member), Joan Iven Abello (Board Member), Samuel Anthony Guevara (Board Member), and Rochelle Vandenberghe (Board Member).

Special Olympics Pilipinas & Pilipinas Obstacle Course Federation (POSF) also signed an MOU on 16 April. This partnership will help develop the skills and to improve the quality of lives of athletes, with POSF designing and implementing a sports program with SO Pilipinas, by providing qualified coaches and instructors, undertake activities, events and competitions

ACTIVITIES GALORE FOR ATHLETES

AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS SINGAPORE

Special Olympics Singapore conducted several workshops in the past month, from fitness sessions to photo editing and even learning survival skills.

 

Athletes, volunteers, and parents from the Athletics Outreach at Kampung Siglap Life Skill Training & Retreat Centre took part in a Jumping Fitness Try-out session, a low impact HIIT activity performed on individual trampoline which helps to build endurance and strength with significantly lesser impact on the joints.

Athletes were also taught photo editing basics by Portrait from the Heart’s volunteer photographers.

Supported by Passion Wave@Jurong Lake Gardens & Orienteering Singapore, Special Olympics Singapore was also part of an Orienteering activity which brought together youths with and without intellectual disabilities together for a hands-on session - learning important survival skills like navigation & map reading.

Nine-year-old Rithvika Sri, from Special Olympics Bharat, scaled Mount Kilimanjaro (the highest mountain in Africa) in Tanzania in February 2021, becoming the youngest girl from Asia to do so.

UPDATED FAQ ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS

Special Olympics encourages everyone who has access to the COVID-19 vaccine, to get vaccinated. The vaccine will help protect you from getting COVID-19. If you still get infected after you get vaccinated, the vaccine works to prevent serious illness. By getting vaccinated, you also help protect people around you.