Human Race shares a few affirmations that can be referenced when speaking to family members or loved ones with intellectual disabilities to help them feel seen, valued and loved.

1. Be yourself, you have so much to offer: People with intellectual disabilities are unique individuals with their own talents, strengths and skills. By encouraging your loved one to embrace who they are s, you can help them see their worth and the positive impact they can have on their community.

2. You are not less worthy because of your disability: It’s important to remind individuals with intellectual disabilities that their worth is not defined by their disability. Reinforce their strengths and remind them that despite the challenges they face, they are just as worthy and deserving of love, respect and opportunities as anyone else.

3. You are seen, you are loved, and you are valued: In a world that often neglects or dismisses people with intellectual disabilities, it’s essential to remind them that they are not invisible. By expressing love and appreciation for who they are, you help them feel seen, valued and loved, which can have a profound impact on their self-esteem and confidence.

4. I believe in you and your potential: People with intellectual disabilities can do great things with the right support and training. Special Olympics Asia Pacific athletes demonstrate a plethora of talents – be that writing, teaching, athletics, music, or art! Many are survivors, overcoming considerable difficulties, to thrive in their respective vocations. By affirming their worth and supporting them in pursuing their goals and dreams, you can help them achieve great things and reach their full potential.

Affirmations can be a powerful tool for empowering and encouraging individuals with intellectual disabilities. By sincerely acknowledging their strengths, affirming their worth, and believing in their potential, we can help break down barriers and create a more inclusive and equitable world for everyone. Support us in our cause! To know more, follow @humanraceasia and @soasiapacific.

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The stigma around mental health may prevent people from being vocal about the problems they face. Even today, pre-conceived notions and misperceptions exist. We have to break the bias. We can help ourselves, our friends, families and colleagues grappling with mental health issues to thrive by being allies and creating supportive and non-judgemental environments for each other.  

To be a mental health ally, Human Race has the following tips for you:  

1) Take care of yourself: As much as we want to be there for our loved ones, it’s imperative to know that it becomes increasingly difficult to be a mental health advocate if you’re suffering yourself. Be sure to take care of yourself and manage your mood by focusing on your mental health. Eating a balanced diet, going for walks, swimming, singing – engage yourself in the activities that make you feel at peace and add value to your otherwise busy day. This ensures feeling less overwhelmed by the stresses of daily life.  

2) Listen with empathy: Sometimes, just listening to someone and being a friend can make all the difference. Lending an ear without judgement and with intent, can help uncover clues about their mental health. It’s also of utmost importance to pay attention to nonverbal communication while they speak.  

3) Turn to professionals for help: Talk therapy can treat some mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. If you notice someone exhibiting signs of a mental illness, you can gently suggest seeking professional help to them. 

4) Ask how you can help: While some people look for solutions, some just want to be heard. Asking your loved ones gently what you can do to help ensures a safe and comfortable environment. A simple question like “What can I do to help you?” or “Would you like to talk about it?” goes a long way! 

5) Educate yourself: Reading up, researching online, talking to people, listening with an open mind – these are some ways you can educate yourself about mental health. The more you know, the better you advocate. Learn about the historical prejudice and stigma associated with mental health, and how difficult it makes for someone to open up or seek the help they require and can benefit from.  

A huge part about being a mental health ally is championing the cause and normalising conversations around it. If you’re reading this blog to educate yourself, you’re already taking the first step!  

The post How To Be A Mental Health Ally appeared first on Human RACE.

Growing up, I’ve always had a short attention span, had trouble concentrating and following instructions. I couldn’t sit still. I also couldn’t speak or express myself in a way that others could understand. My grandparents didn’t know how to take care of me or engage me meaningfully. They thought that the best way was to leave me to watch TV so that I wouldn’t run around and disturb everyone.

When I was younger, I would spend all day in front of the TV and snack. I love sweets. That’s why I was a chubby child and would fall sick often.

In 2017, my family was introduced to the Special Olympics Young Athletes program through a development center for special children. My sister attended the training with me. It was great fun and we played all sorts of games – crawling through hoops, jumping over obstacles, catching, running, and throwing.

After that first training, my sister came home and taught my grandparents to make simple toys from whatever we had at home. We could use a pole as a simple balance beam. Or our laundry line to hang balloons. Or our old basin as a platform for me to jump over. Since then, we have been using these everyday items as props and ‘toys’ to replicate the games at home. My sister makes sure I do the activities every day. 

These days, I spend a lot less time in front of the TV. My concentration has improved and I am able to follow instructions better. I’ve also lost some weight, feel more energetic and hardly fall sick. I’ve been helping my grandparents with daily chores like sweeping and washing the dishes. In the evenings, I would go play with my neighbors instead of watching TV. I also communicate with others better now and can speak my thoughts.

At school, whenever there are physical activities, my teachers and coaches would ask me to demonstrate to the rest of the class. I feel so proud that I can lead my classmates in doing exercise drills.

Last year, I represented my school at the Special Olympics Thailand National Virtual Games in bocce and won my very first medal – a bronze. I was so happy! My coach and my family were so proud of me. I can’t wait to take part in more competitions and win more medals for my school. When I’m older, I’ll win medals for Thailand!

My grandparents used to worry a lot about me, but things are different now. We understand that although I have a disability, it does not define me. My future is bright. The sky’s not the limit, it’s only just the beginning!  

To know more about our cause, visit @humanraceasia and @soasiapacific.

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When I was 4, my doctor recommended that I enrolled in a provincial special education centre in Southern Thailand. That was where my parents learned about the Special Olympics Young Athletes program. I was encouraged to play games, and make friends with other children.

My parents changed their mindset too, after seeing how much fun I had at the Young Athletes workshops. They realized that the games were beneficial for my health. The physical activities were making me stronger and I wasn’t as breathless as before. The doctor said I could reduce my medication. I also came out of my shell and found the confidence to make friends. I became more lively and talkative.

Every day since then, my parents use the skills they learnt at the Young Athletes program to create new games and toys for me at home. They use buckets, bottles, flower pots, tiles, cement blocks, along with beach balls and balloons, to create obstacle courses. We throw balls into the buckets, kick the ball to topple the water bottles, and jump over the cement blocks into hula-hoop circles. We set up the games outside my home so that the other children in the neighborhood can come play too. Even the adults join in, so we have all grown active and fit together as a community!

I am now 11, and studying at the Wat Sarikaram School, an integrated Primary School for children with and without intellectual disabilities in Trang, Thailand. My teacher says that she cannot tell that I have a heart defect because I’m active and smiling all the time, playing till I’m all sweaty and dancing at any chance I get. I’ve also been selected to be a cheerleader, as well as a drum major in the band.

My parents get their daily wages as laborers in rubber plantations and construction sites. They supplement the household income by selling fishballs at the weekend markets. These days, I’m able to accompany them and help out with chores at the stall. They don’t have to worry about me, not being able to keep still or not listening to instructions.

Today, I no longer need to take any medication. My heart, mind and spirit are strong. Nobody can stop me! In a few years, when I’m ready, I will join the Special Olympics sports program, and train to be an athlete for Thailand!

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Hadbaa is now 7, and she has been a joy to us all. She’s a sweet, caring, helpful child who is loved and pampered by the entire family. She’s the youngest of my three children. My eldest son is 26, and my daughter is 21. 

Hadbaa’s grown up with hearing issues due to a narrow ear canal, which has affected her speech development. Till today, she can say only a few words and phrases but she expresses her affection in different ways. Just recently, she came into the kitchen while I was baking and kept repeating, “Hadbaa help.” I didn’t understand at first. Then I realized that she just wanted to give me a helping hand, to bake and clean up. It was the first time she had spoken those words. All children accomplish milestones in their own way, in their own time, and every step brings me immense joy.

Since she was born, we knew that we would have to work a little harder to help her physical and cognitive development. That is why I have always tried my best to expose her to as many activities as possible, to build her confidence and strength. 

When she was just 1, I enrolled her at the Rainbow Centre, a school for infants, children and youth with intellectual disabilities. I also tried applying for a spot at various childcare centres but I was rejected time and again. I was told they didn’t have any teachers to care for children with special needs. But giving up was not an option for me. When she was 4, we finally secured a place at My First Skool. She was one of the oldest children there and the only child with a disability, but she had no problems fitting in. The beautiful thing with children is, there are simply no barriers.

We also learnt about the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program through the Rainbow Centre. She joined when she was 3 and hasn’t stopped since. Every week, we do simple physical activities like jumping, throwing, catching and running through obstacles with other children, both with and without intellectual disabilities, and it has helped so much in the development of her fitness, coordination, confidence, motor and social skills.   

Through the program, I have also made friends with other parents and found a support system. We share advice and resources with one another, and I know I’m not alone. 

Hadbaa used to be so shy, but these days, I don’t have to hold her hand. She confidently waves and smiles at everyone she meets, and volunteers for activities. She’s very active. Whenever we visit sports stores, she runs straight to the treadmill and doesn’t need any help on it. When she started school recently at MINDS (Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore), her teachers were surprised that she could run up and down the stairs quite fearlessly without any help.

She loves to dance and we have been doing Zumba together. We’ve also been doing Tabata workouts at home as a family during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her latest craze is table tennis, which we started playing as a family recently. We are hoping she can train with the Special Olympics Singapore table tennis team when she’s older, and maybe one day, represent the country.

While there are organisations like Special Olympics in Singapore that help children with special needs, we have a long way to go as a society to be more accepting and inclusive. I remember an incident when we were in an elevator with a young couple with a child. Hadbaa was only 3. The child pointed at Hadbaa and said, “Why does she look like that? What’s wrong with her?” I was shocked when the parents turned away from us quite rudely, and told the child not to look at Hadbaa. I stared at them in silence, not knowing what to say. 

Hadbaa’s siblings were indignant and furious, but I told them not to retaliate. Although it hurt terribly, I didn’t want to show how upset I was. It would affect Hadbaa. These days, we ignore all these stares and whispers. I refuse to let the judgment of others affect how we live our lives. 

To every parent with a special child, my message is do not hide them. You may encounter people who do not understand, but we mustn’t let that stop our children from exploring the world. We must let the world know our children too, and appreciate how beautiful they truly are. My hope is for Hadbaa to grow up strong, independent and confident. I want her to be able to stand on her own two feet and have the courage to pursue her dreams, no matter what others say. 

Let’s take a step towards a more inclusive world by supporting Hadbaa and thousands more children like her here. To find out more about how to be part of the #WalkForInclusion campaign, please download our summary guide here. We thank you for your generosity and look forward to your participation!

The post In her own time appeared first on Human RACE.

I have my mum Toni and my dad James, I have an older sister, Shannon and younger brother, Daniel who has severe learning disabilities. He is also an athlete in my Special Olympics club and he is in my basketball, football and athletics team. I also have two nieces, Morgan and Leigh, who are my sister’s daughters. I am from Auckland, New Zealand.

From what I have heard, back in the day, people with intellectual disabilities were not treated well and didn’t get the recognition they deserved. Now it is getting better but still needs improvement. As a country, we need to do more to make our society more inclusive.

Our athletes are not included in mainstream sports team, this can cause athletes to feel isolated and their mental health to suffer as they can’t express their abilities through sport. This can also affect their family members as they are the athlete’s key pillar of support.

All my school life, I was in different schools but was based with Parkside Special School in a satellite class. I always had contact with mainstream children and even did some classes with them because I was able to do so. In Primary school, I did reading and math. In Intermediate, I did wood tech, cooking, art, drama and choir; and in High School I was in the school’s wind band where I played the clarinet. I was also in the basketball team.

In Primary school, my friends and I were lucky to not have experienced bullying from other children. I think it was because we were all so young and naive and probably did not know any better. I remember some of the children from the mainstream classes would involve us in their activities and even let us lead some of the games we played.

In Intermediate school, things were a bit different. Do not get me wrong. There were some children who were nice, they would come hang out with us and treat us no different. But there were children who didn’t treat us like everyone else, they would call us names under their breath or out loud when we walked past them and some would mock some of the things we did like jumping, flapping, and so on.

Personally, I was never physically bullied but I have had some verbal abuse. Some children have made fun of my size and have called me “pregnant”, “chubby”, “fat” and quite a few other names. About my intellectual disabilities however I have had different responses. Some children I knew well would politely ask about my autism as they were curious and wanted to get to know me better. Other children would say to me “are you from that classroom? (the satellite classrooms)”, or “what is wrong with you?” I know they were just curious and when I answered them saying that I have autism, they would say “Well, you don’t look autistic, unlike this other person who looks different!”, as if people looking different is a bad thing.

In High School, I was so scared about what the students from the mainstream classes were going to think of me but I was treated just like everyone else when I was in the school’s wind band or in the basketball team. I was treated heaps better than I was in intermediate school, but I think it was partly because our classes were quite far from the rest, so we were in our own little world.

Being a person with autism, I don’t have any physical impairments. But seeing how some children treat others with noticeable disabilities is really sad, and I think more education and awareness is needed for children with intellectual disabilities to be accepted in society. Thinking back now that I’m older, I think the reason why children teased or mocked us is because they were not educated or included in our environment at school.

How I got through all of the bullying through school was sport. During our lunch breaks, I was always doing something physical whether it was just playing tag, basketball, touch, and cricket with my friends and I think that’s when my love for sports began. I joined Special Olympics in 2010 doing ten pin bowling, in 2012 I started basketball and I’m still doing it to this day alongside power lifting and football. Through the years, I have also tried athletics and table tennis.

With basketball I have competed in many ribbon days and regional games. I have competed in the National Summer Games in 2013 in Dunedin and was going to compete in the National Summer Games in Wellington 2017. Unfortunately, six weeks prior to the games I was involved in a traffic accident on my way to school. We veered off the road, hit a ditch and rolled four to five times and landed on the side. My injuries were a fractured L1 vertebrae and lacerated liver, so it put me out of action for a few months but now I am stronger than ever before!

I represented New Zealand in basketball at the 2019 World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi and I was the first female in New Zealand to go over to the world games for basketball. I competed in the men’s grade and our team came in 4^th in the 3^rd division. Going to the World Games is my biggest highlight with Special Olympics so far, it was something I never thought I would do, and it was a dream come true.

My life has changed so much since joining Special Olympics, I’ve finally found people whom I can relate to and be myself without judgment. Special Olympics is like one big family, we support and encourage each other in what we do, we bring each other up when we fall down, we welcome everyone with open arms including families, siblings and friends, and we don’t judge or discriminate against anyone.

I have grown so much as a person, my confidence has had a huge boost. I am now co-chair of the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Athlete Input Council and I feel like I now have a voice that I want to use to help other athletes find theirs, and to also educate people about who we are.  

Since being a part of Special Olympics, my family has a whole new perspective about people with intellectual disabilities and it has opened a brand new world which they wouldn’t have known or experienced. They have developed so many lifelong friendships. I have been told by many people that I have inspired them because of my disability and what I had to achieve to get to where I am today.

My hope for the future is that we will have a more inclusive and accepting society. There are people who still don’t know about us and what we can do, and my simple hope is that more people will try and understand us, our disabilities and Special Olympics.

The post A place to belong appeared first on Human RACE.

Mrs Aruna Oswal is a philanthropist and member of the Lions Club International. She has been an avid supporter of the Special Olympics movement since 2015.

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Despite all the curveballs life has thrown at them, they sure are living their best life and so should you. 

The post 10 pictures of people living their best life appeared first on Human RACE.

Choose Happiness
Choose happiness as your primary goal instead of allowing other competing areas to overshadow it. Watching their children enjoy everyday activities was their biggest joy. They could have been disheartened by a lot of things; however, they chose happiness above all.

Be Social
Happiness and love flourish in the company of others and are important for your health and well-being which is why when the twins turned 7, Dr Dindo & Arlyn Astom took the family overseas. They also made sure to take the kids to church and even though it was tough to manage them, they never gave up and made sure their kids were around people.

Don’t compare 
We might become too invested in the lives of others and lose track of our journey. Dr Dindo & Arlyn Astom believe that simple things may be less ordinary, but we cannot live our lives envying others.

Looking for more inspiration? Read the full story here…

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1. You might give up on yourself, but they won’t
Despite what everyone else thought about Johannes, Helen continued to pour in undying love and effort to make sure 2 year old Johannes get the training he needed for life.

2. They give you wings to fly!
No matter how tough things got, Helen made sure she explored different hobbies that Johannes might enjoy and introduced him to new books, music, sports and more to gauge what he enjoyed the most.  

3. They are also the wind beneath your wings.
Not only did Helen gave her son the means to do better in life, but she also made sure the family took overseas trips for Johannes to gain perspective on how life was beyond the norm; which eventually prepared him for the trips he took with Special Olympics, later on. 

4. No one will ever love you as much as they do!
Even though she faced a lot of confused glances including a cashier once asking her ‘Did you do anything wrong?’ ‘Did he eat anything wrong?’ She did not let any of this stop her and supported Johannes through each step.

Read Helen’s full story here

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