Amber Fallow hugs Jim Wood as she shows off the medal she won at the 2008 Special Olympics State Swim Meet held at the North County Aquatic Center.
First and foremost, they are athletes. Whether in the swimming pool, at the bowling alley, or on a track field, the enthusiasm these competitors bring to their sport is contagious, and as Jim Wood cheers them on he sees faces filled with joy. It’s no wonder; they have accomplished what many may have once considered impossible.
Wood is the Indian River County coordinator for Special Olympics of Florida, a non-profit organization that offers year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for individuals who have intellectual disabilities. The ultimate goal is to help them participate as productive members of society by providing opportunities to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition. Whether they’re 8 years old or 88, these athletes face hurdles that others don’t.
Read the entire article in the February 2009 issue
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