Human Race shines the spotlight on 3 inspiring individuals who have broken barriers – juggling work, play and more – proving that everyone can have it all when given the right opportunities to succeed. 

Finding value in employment – Dwight Saldito

Dwight Saldito could not walk or speak till the age of 6. Growing up, his younger siblings made fun of him for being different and slow. It was only at the age of 10, after he joined a group of athletes with disabilities training in sports with Special Olympics, that things changed. On the sports field, he gained friendships, strength and confidence.   

Over the years, Dwight has trained in athletics, basketball, football, bowling and table tennis, and even represented the Philippines at several Special Olympics World Games and Regional Games. The confidence he gained through sports empowered him to land a job at the age of 43 with Southstar Drug, a health and personal care retailer.  

Being employed brings empowerment. Dwight is now able to afford his mobile phone and an electric bike, while also finding the confidence to speak up and contribute to society. He is now his family’s breadwinner, something that brings him indescribable pride. “Having a job is one of the best things that has happened in my life, and my greatest hope is that more employers all over the world can open their doors, hearts and minds to workers like me,” he says. 

Advocating for Equality – Tegan Crotty 

Before she sustained a serious right foot injury three years ago, Tegan was swimming up to four times a week. Being a part of Special Olympics helped her realise that she wasn’t alone. While she was the only person in a wheelchair at her school, she was around many people with similar disabilities at Special Olympics. Tegan has spina bifida and hydrocephalus (build-up of fluid on the brain). “Swimming is a great equaliser. In the pool, I’m like everyone else, my disability is nothing,” she says.   

Tegan has qualifications in business administration and computing. For over six years, she has worked at Paper Plus, New Zealand’s largest retailer of books and stationery. She’s also been volunteering at the Red Cross charity shop for over 10 years.  

With Special Olympics, she has trained as a spokesperson and ambassador, advocating for more inclusive communities and equal opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities across New Zealand. “For me, my disability is a part of who I am, not the entire picture. That came about because of Special Olympics.”  

Breaking all barriers – Keshav Malik  

Keshav was diagnosed at age 2 with microcephaly, a condition which affected the growth of his brain. The condition delayed his cognitive and physical progress and left him with permanent developmental disabilities. Although he was slower than others in learning certain tasks, he had a gift when it came to sports.  

He attributes his success to his father, the first person to observe his sporting inclination. His training with Special Olympics helped him develop discipline and focus in daily activities. In 2011, he represented India in badminton at the Special Olympics World Games in Athens and returned with gold and silver medals. 

He became the first special needs athlete to be esteemed with the Bhim Award, the highest sports honour given by the government of Haryana, India. In 2018, he was employed by the state government of Haryana as a coach, a position opened only to those with remarkable sporting talent and performance.  

“Today, I try my best to enable my students to turn their passion into reality. Beyond just being their sports coach, I strive to be their mentor and pillar of support,” says Keshav. “I want them to know that there is no challenge too difficult to overcome.”  

Meaning and Motivation 

Meaningful work empowers people to be a part of something larger than themselves. Every Special Olympics athlete who is employed has reported increased self-esteem due to a daily purpose and contribution to society. They are motivated by the tasks set before them, inspired to do their best possible work.  

You can be a part of this movement, to be a better ally to people with intellectual disabilities at the workplace. Find out more by following @humanraceasia and @soasiapacific!

The post Breaking Barriers At The Workplace appeared first on Human RACE.

We discovered Special Olympics in Pakistan when I was 8 years old. Special Olympics was conducting a free health screening for people with intellectual disabilities as part of their Healthy Athletes program in Karachi, and I went for an eye test. My teachers and parents were shocked to find out that I had cataracts in both eyes. My father, in particular, was very upset. He couldn’t believe that I had such a condition more common in the elderly, at this young age. He was depressed for a time and said that things would never improve in my life.

After the screening, the Special Olympics team referred me to the LRBT hospital, a free eye hospital in Karachi, for further treatment. Cataract surgery was recommended, and an appointment was made in December 2016. Unfortunately, on the day of the surgery, I had a chest infection and the procedure had to be postponed. Finally, in April 2017, I had surgery done on one eye.

I will never forget the day I had my eye shield removed at my follow-up check. For the first time in years, I saw the faces of my loved ones and those around me clearly. It was as if the fog had lifted. I was thrilled, and so was my family.

Six months later, I went for a second procedure for my other eye. My life has been completely transformed since. Since my vision improved, I have gained the confidence to take part in various sports activities. I have been training in cycling with Special Olympics Pakistan, and my health has improved as a result. I also love doing art, reading, and playing video games with my elder brother!

My family says I am a changed person. Previously, I kept to myself and stayed home a lot. Today, I am a cheerful and outgoing teenager. Seeing a change in my personality and attitude over the past few years has given my family hope for my future. They know that I will now be able to develop my skills through sports and be an independent person.

Although I have not been able to train outdoors over the past year due to the pandemic, I have been keeping fit at home through online workouts. I am looking forward to when I can train again, in cycling as well as other sports. Special Olympics has given me wings to fly!      

The post My World Is Hazy No More appeared first on Human RACE.

The following is an excerpt from “Isolation isn’t new for those with intellectual disabilities. But covid-19 still poses a threat,” an op-ed by Timothy Shriver for the Washington Post. The original article can be read here.

What our society looks like after this crisis depends on our collective understanding of the threats posed by inequity — and the work we do to address them. Let’s start by recognizing that people with intellectual disabilities are among those most vulnerable to the novel coronavirus. This is partly because about a quarter of adults with intellectual disabilities in the United States live in group homes. The risk of infection and death in these environments is staggeringly high. A recent study of group homes and similar facilities in New York City estimated that residents are around five times more likely than the general population to develop covid-19, and that those who get it are about five times more likely to die from it.

For a host of reasons related to being a medically underserved population, people with intellectual disabilities already suffer disproportionately from preventable disease, chronic pain and premature death. We have yet to resolve inequalities in our health-care system that are causing death, illness and emotional trauma to those who were already marginalized. Health-care providers and support staff must be trained to work with people who have intellectual disabilities — not just during the pandemic but all the time. This kind of training has long been lacking. More than 80 percent of medical students reported receiving no clinical training in the care of patients with disabilities in a 2009 study by the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. Health-care providers must know how to effectively communicate about covid-19 prevention, how to recognize symptoms and, more broadly, how to treat people with intellectual disabilities.

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