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 Special
Olympics Medina County
The mission
of Special Olympics Ohio is to provide year-round sports training and
competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual
disabilities. Through successful experiences in sports, individuals gain
confidence and build a positive self-image which carries over into their home, job and community.
History
The concept
of Special Olympics began in the early 1960's when Eunice Kennedy Shriver
started a day camp for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The first
national meet was held at Soldier Field in Chicago in 1968 for 1,000 athletes
from the United States and Canada. Shortly thereafter, Ohio began a Special
Olympics program under the name of the Ohio Athletic Association. Special
Olympics Ohio became incorporated in 1975 and currently has approximately 200 local organizations and
over 18,000 athletes who are in training and competition. Special Olympic organizations
originate from County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, public schools, developmental centers,
parks and recreation departments, churches and community groups. Today, there
are Special Olympics programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 150
different countries around the world.
Athletes
To be
eligible for Special Olympics an athlete must:
• have a developmental disability
• be eight years of age or older
• have a valid physical examination and information release form on file
• be a member of an accredited local Special Olympics organization.
(Special Olympics Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities is an
accredited organization.)
Athlete Forms:
Athlete
Application for Participation
Athlete Survey Form
Athlete Code of Conduct-coming
soon
Special Olympics Medina County brochure
Special Olympics
Medina County News
Click here
to view the newest updates about our sports and athletes
Special Olympics
Calendar and Schedules
General Sports Season Calendar
Sport Schedules-coming soon
Coaches
Special Olympic coaches provide the skills and
spirit that help define a true athlete. They are role models, character builders
and give athletes awareness of their own worth, ability and courage.
Participation is seasonal by sport. Some head coaching positions are paid
positions under contract.
Special Olympics coaches:
1) assist athletes in learning
new skills and applying them to competition
2) encourage confidence and
self-esteem through sport
3) obtain, with help from the
Special Olympics Coordinator, necessary facilities and equipment for training
4) recruit assistant coaches when
needed
To be considered as a head coach you need to be a
minimum of 18 years old. To help as a assistant coach, you need to be a minimum
of 14 years old. To be a partner and participate as a team member in a unified
sport you need to be a minimum of 12 years old.
Coaches Forms:
Coaches Survey Form
Unified Sports
Partner Application
Coaches Code of Conduct-coming
soon
Volunteers
Volunteers are the backbone of Special Olympics.
Each year over 11,000 individuals donate their time to provide the sports
training and competition opportunities in Medina County and across the state.
Whether you are interested in coaching, officiating or assisting with an event,
we have ample opportunities for you to get involved.
Event Volunteers
Special Olympics would not exist without the time,
energy, commitment and enthusiasm of volunteers. Volunteers are sought
year-round to assist with sports competitions and special events. Volunteers are
given a brief orientation prior to events and most volunteer positions are easy
to learn. No experience is necessary. Some volunteer opportunities include:
Athlete
Escort - help athletes find their events during competitions
Scorers and Timers - help with timing and scoring
at sports competitions
Awards
Presenters - distribute awards to the athletes after the competition
Spirit
Section - groups who attend events to cheer the athletes in competition
Sports Officials
Registered/sanctioned officials are always sought
for competition at the local, sectional and state levels. Sports rules for
Special Olympics events are the same as they are for competition for able-bodied
sports programs with a few possible modifications. For example, high school
federation (OHSAA) rules are followed for Special Olympics basketball and TAC
rules govern athletics.
Volunteer Forms:
Youth "A" Volunteer Application (ages 14-17)
Adult "A" Volunteer Application (ages 18 and over)
Support
Special Olympics Medina County is a non-profit
501(c)3 corporation funded through private and corporate donations and
fundraising projects. In addition to monetary contributions, Special Olympics
also accepts a variety of in-kind donations of goods and services. Special
Olympics is not a United Way agency and does not receive any federal funds.
Donations to Special Olympics are carefully managed so that the athletes benefit
the most from the program. Nearly 77 percent of funds raised go directly towards
programs and services for the Special Olympic athletes. Generally donations are
tax deductible. For more information on
how to donate locally, please contact Special Olympics Medina County
Coordinator, Kathy Miller at 330-725-7751 ext. 249.
Fundraising
Volunteers are needed to help raise funds and
awareness for local Special Olympics activities. The funds raised pay for items
such as the cost of training athletes, uniforms, housing, meals and
transportation.
Contact Us
Special Olympics, Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities
4691 Windfall Road, Medina, Ohio 44256
Special Olympics Medina County Coordinator Kathy
Miller (ext. 249)
Medina -
330.725.7751
Brunswick - 330.225.0533 Wadsworth -
330.336.8444
To request more information or submit a question
about Special Olympics Medina County,
click here
Special Olympics Links
Special
Olympics Ohio
Special Olympics Team USA
Special Olympics International
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