INSIDE SOSC: Thriller in the OC
By Kelsey Lewis HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — More than 50 athletes and 40 volunteers were in attendance as four teams clashed in the 2019 Orange ...
Beckman HS Student Has Unified Vision
Amy Watson was in her P.E. class at Beckman High School when she took notice of the ratio of her fellow general education students to special education peers. She also saw the interaction between them, and the desire for acknowledgment her classmates with intellectual disabilities craved. This was the moment Amy knew she wanted to ...
INSIDE SOSC: Recapping 2018
With two weeks remaining in the calendar year, it's time to look back on 2018. WeAreSOSC.org was created to help tell the stories of Special Olympics Southern California athletes and recap the various events and fundraisers. Here are some of the highlights (click subhead for full post): What it Means to Play Unified Back in ...
Inaugural Flag Football Event Raises $18,500
The inaugural Law Enforcement Torch Run Unified flag football tournament brought together 160 Special Olympics Southern California athletes and local law enforcement officers over the weekend, and two teams were left standing heading into Sunday afternoon’s championship game. LAPD Operations West Bureau Badgers claimed the trophy, outlasting OC Lawmen in a 16-6 contest at Los ...
Respect: The R-Word Special Olympics Strives to Promote
Stephanie Hardy remembers what life was like as a high school student with intellectual disabilities. There were days she would walk through the quad and bullies would stuff her in a trashcan, and other days would come with name-calling. She wanted to be seen and acknowledged like the rest of the students – but not ...
INSIDE SOSC: Healthy Dose of Care
Individuals with intellectual disabilities are an underserved community in many respects, and healthcare is among the most important areas. On average, people with ID die 16 years sooner than the general population due to denial of health services or undetected health issues. In the last two decades, Special Olympics has made significant strides to change ...
An Opportunity to Shine
Think of any sporting event, at any level, and the athletes involved share common goals. The teams and individuals want to test themselves, striving to rise to the occasion and perform their very best when the stakes are the highest. Special Olympics Southern California athletes are no different, and they continue to prove that year-round ...
INSIDE SOSC: ‘More Than Sports’
Daree Jordan sees her son, Justus, as one of the many athletes who have gone through a transformative experience with Special Olympics Southern California. Among the biggest differences are in the confidence the 24-year-old carries and the camaraderie he shares with his fellow Special Olympics San Luis Obispo County athletes. "He just looks forward to ...
INSIDE SOSC: Plenty to be Thankful For
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, the athletes and supporters of Special Olympics Southern California have demonstrated throughout the year that there is plenty to be thankful for when it comes to their personal experiences. Whether it's through learning the basics of a new sport or simple encouragement, SOSC athletes continue to see their coaches as so ...
RECAP: 2018 Fall Games, Day 2
More than 1,100 Special Olympics Southern California athletes shined as the two-day 2018 Fall Games came to a close Sunday in Fountain Valley. Golf was the last of the five sports to wrap up, as the competitors battled a strong wind in the afternoon during the nine-hole round at David L. Baker Golf Course. In ...
RECAP: 2018 Fall Games, Day 1
The opening day of the 2018 Special Olympics Southern California Fall Games featured competitive action in a revamped championship event lineup Saturday in Fountain Valley. More than 1,100 athletes competed in traditional fall sports soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball, and golf made its Fall Games debut after the introduction of a new sports plan prior ...