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Special Olympics partners with LAUSD for the Spring School Games

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Student/athletes compete in various track and field events at West Adams High School.
/OW photo by Jason Lewis (128615)
Student/athletes compete in various track and field events at West Adams High School. /OW photo by Jason Lewis

Elementary and middle school student/athletes competed in track and field events at West Adams High School this past Friday, as the Special Olympics Southern California partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

LAUSD-adapted physical education teachers provided sports and athletic competition training for students who have intellectual disabilities and other special needs. The students trained for six to eight weeks in their physical education classes to prepare for this event.

“It’s an opportunity for our students in adaptive PE through LAUSD to participate in a competition experience,” said Melissa Erdmann, manager of LAUSD Sports.

This program provides opportunities to learn through sports competition, develop all aspects of total fitness, and promote life-long fitness skills that helps student athletes lead a more productive and independent life. Many of the participants, their families and district staff will be volunteering this year at the 2015 Special Olympic World Summer Games.

This program is an introduction into the Special Olympics, which holds major sporting events world wide. The Special Olympics Southern California provided all of the flair of their official events, giving these children a taste of what they can expect if they continue into high levels of competition.

“It’s really the opportunity for them to show what they are capable of, instead of people focusing on what they are unable to do,” Erdmann said.  “It’s that pride, and you can see that on all of the faces of all of the students, teachers, and parents who work really hard. For some of the children, it’s the first time that their parents are getting to see them compete.”

The LAUSD and Special Olympics Southern California will host similar events at four other high schools, covering all of the regions of the city.

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