Initiatives

We are a catalyst for inclusion! Special Olympics Washington is the leader in sports, inclusive health and community building, empowering children and adults with intellectual disabilities to be valued on and off the playing field.

Here’s what we offer off the playing field:

Athlete Leadership

The purpose of Athlete Leadership is to empower athletes to develop leadership skills and utilize their voices and abilities to undertake meaningful leadership roles, influence change in the Special Olympics movement and create inclusive communities around the state.

Athlete Leaders participate in leadership trainings, improve their local communities on Athlete Leadership Councils and take on meaningful roles throughout the organization as representatives, speakers, coaches, and more!

Unified Leadership

Building from sport, Unified Leadership teaches leaders without disabilities to value and learn from people with intellectual disabilities to make changes and create environments where people with intellectual disabilities get opportunities to have meaningful jobs and roles.

Special Olympics Washington is taking a Unified Leadership approach in our work and sharing our approach with our partners in the community.

Family Support

Families are the number one fans of our Special Olympics Washington athletes. They give the type of love, support and encouragement that no one else can. Special Olympics Washington is a support network that brings families together in a caring, positive way—and that makes the cheers for our athletes even louder.

The Family Support program works to connect Special Olympics Washington athletes and families to local resources that provide support outside of sports and recreation.

Young Athletes

Special Olympics Young Athletes is a sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), ages 2 to 7 years old. Young Athletes introduces basic sport skills, like running, kicking and throwing. Young Athletes offers families, teachers, caregivers and people from the community the chance to share the joy of sports with all children.