Nigel’s athletic abilities were clear from the start. He took part in many sporting events in school and was soon offered an opportunity to represent New Zealand in high jump, at the Special Olympics World Summer Games, held at Minneapolis-St Paul, USA in 1991. Nigel has never competed before in this sport, but that did not deter him.

He trained hard and secured a gold medal in the high jump and a silver in the 1500 meters. These victories marked a turning point in his life, igniting a passion for competition that would carry him far beyond the athletic field.

Upon returning home, Nigel continued to excel, venturing into other competitions across New Zealand, particularly half marathons, where he clinched two victories and achieved an impressive personal best time of one hour and 12 minutes. As his athletic career evolved, so did his desire to give back to the community that had nurtured his spirits, so, at the age of 20, after he found a good job, Nigel also volunteered to be a fireman.

Nigel shares, “I wanted to give back to SO New Zealand all of what they had given me in my time as an athlete. I also want to share my knowledge that I have with other coaches and athletes wanting to follow my path. I feel it is all about giving back as I have done with the Volunteer Fire Service. They made it possible for me to attend the World Summer Games in 1991, so I joined the fire service when I was old enough to give back to the community who supported me.”

Nigel’s transition from athlete to coach was a testament to his determination and resilience. Despite doubts from others, he embraced this new role wholeheartedly. Armed with a dedication to learning, Nigel obtained coaching qualifications, absorbed coaching strategies, and designed training programs to shape his athletes into the best versions of themselves.

In 2019, Nigel was appointed as an athletics coach for the Special Olympics New Zealand team at the World Games in the UAE. This marked the fulfilment of a dream he had since his days as an athlete and was a finalist at the 2019 Altitude Award in Auckland. His passion for coaching only grew stronger, culminating in another appointment as an athletics coach for the 2023 World Games team in Berlin.

This achievement was made even more special as Nigel’s niece, Melissa, was competing as an athlete. Nigel’s dedication to coaching transcended mere training; it involved building bonds with his athletes, a connection that united them in their pursuit of excellence.

As a coach, Nigel faced challenges head-on, managing athletes spread across New Zealand, guiding them remotely, and shaping their training regimens. Despite the lack of physical proximity, his unwavering support and guidance kept the athletes motivated and prepared for the grand stage of the World Games. His leadership and mentorship have not only propelled athletes to achieve their personal bests but have also inspired them to dream without limits.

When asked what he wanted his athletes to take away from their experience, Nigel responded, “That it was a happy and joyful time and that they did their best regardless of them winning or losing. Also, that they know how proud we are of them no matter what.”

Nigel’s journey from school athlete to gold medalist and national coach on the world stage is a story of triumph over adversity. His evolution reflects his unyielding determination to give back, to inspire, and to break barriers for himself and others, proving that the human spirit knows no limits, and with dedication and belief, remarkable achievements are within reach. Subscribe to follow Nigel’s story as he joins thousands of #DreamChasers around Asia Pacific on Human Race, our storytelling platform.

The post From Athlete to Coach – A Dream Chasing Story Spanning 40 Years appeared first on Human RACE.

 A difficult childhood 

Te Huia was born with autism, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. When he first moved in with us, he barely talked. He had very little structure in his early years. My grandchildren were part of an athletics club at the time, and I got him to join them when he was about 9. Through the club, we learnt about Special Olympics in New Zealand.  

While he’s earned the nickname “Rocket Man” for his success in running, Te Huia’s race through his early life has not been easy. He was in a special needs unit in school, but struggled to fit in. Teachers there seemed to expect him to behave like a mainstream student. They didn’t understand that if they put too much pressure on him, he would not cope. They would teach him numbers one day, but he would forget what was taught a few days later and they would get upset with him. The pressure would often overwhelm him and cause him to have meltdowns.  

He’s had a few meltdowns in public, and some people have passed horribly callous comments like “he should have been put down at birth” or that “he needs to be on drugs”. People can be so cruel. Usually, I just tell them to back off and leave him alone.  

One time, we were at a swimming event at his High School, and one of the mainstream students who had been put into the wrong event turned around and yelled, “How dare they put me in with the retards!” I was so upset, but I held myself back from telling the boy off publicly. I knew that his attitude had likely been shaped by his parents or the people around him, and it wasn’t his fault. I was disappointed too that the teachers didn’t correct him then. 

Finding his passion through sport 

Te Huia has been with Special Olympics for 14 years now, and loves being part of the team. It provides him an inclusive environment where he’s accepted and respected for his talents. He’s great at long distance running. His best events are the 3,000m and 1,500m. He’s accumulated a room full of medals over the years – every single one a testament of what he’s capable of. How many of us have bragging rights to 6 marathons, 40 half marathons, and several triathlons? 

Some people ask me why Te Huia isn’t employed, and I ask them right back, “Are you going to give him a job?” The answer, sadly, is usually no. He’s had several attempts to find work, but somehow, things have not worked out. He was working in a rest home helping with general cleaning, but because he was not provided with proper supervision, some residents got upset with him and he had to leave. Another time, he was employed doing simple baking, but unfortunately, the shop closed, and the staff had to be let go. These days, he keeps busy with chores and odd jobs for friends, as well as tasks on my daughter’s farm. 

Seeing beyond disability 

I wish the world can see what I see – that Te Huia is an amazing young man. He’s got such a good heart. He is polite and never vicious or nasty to other people. Even when he gets overwhelmed, he doesn’t hurt others, but he will beat himself up. When he was younger, he would really beat himself terribly, but as he grew older, we’ve channeled this energy to his running. It’s been so rewarding to see what he’s accomplished through sports.  

Running has empowered him to find his strength, his confidence and his voice. Apart from Special Olympics, Te Huia also trains with another running group for persons with disabilities, Achilles. We met trainers who got him started on triathlons. He’s been so disciplined and focused on his training that he completed a half Ironman last Christmas, and the experience was awesome. He’s made so many friends through sports, and has earned quite a reputation for himself in the community for being unstoppable! 

Our days together are busy and fulfilling. We’re never just sitting idle. We’re usually out for a run, a bike ride, swimming, at the gym, sports training, grocery shopping, or visiting family and friends. If we’re home, we have a personal trainer that comes train with Te Huia, or we’ll be catching up on chores. The lockdown during Covid-19 was challenging. We channeled his energy into jigsaw puzzles, chores like mowing the lawn, and cooking. Te Huia is a great cook. His favourite dishes are healthy stewed vegetables and meat. 

Looking towards the future 

We are looking forward to the Special Olympics New Zealand national games later this year where Te Huia will get to compete again. In fact, his biggest dream is to be able to represent his country one day and inspire the world with what he can do.  

My message to all parents of children or adults with special needs is to get them into sport. It is such a healthy way to build their confidence and social skills and include them as part of the larger community. 

I hope to one day see a kinder society where no one is judged. Don’t look at someone’s disability, look inside, and see what people are really like. When people get to know Te Huia, they realize he’s such a dream. They say I’ve done a good job as a foster parent, but I tell them it’s because I had a superb base to work with. We didn’t do much, we simply brought out all the good that was already in him.  

To borrow the words of Condoleezza Rice, “Every life is worthy, and every life is capable of greatness. We have an obligation to make sure that opportunity for greatness is there.”  

The post Finding Greatness appeared first on Human RACE.

We’re celebrating 3 amazing stories from Special Olympics this Father’s Day. Meet these superhero dads who have made a difference in the world.  

The Superhero Who Juggles Like A Pro 

“I’m grateful for this little world I’ve been blessed with. Life may not always be perfect, but I’m learning to be a better dad, a better athlete and a better human every single day” 

 – Graeme Porter 

Graeme Porter strives to do everything for his two young daughters, Lilly-Rose and Violet, whether it’s getting up early in the morning to put his Ramsay on to cook them delicious breakfast or fighting against the clock to drop them off at school. Graeme is an apprentice aluminum joiner, race car driver, basketball coach, and former athletes’ representative on New Zealand’s Special Olympics Board, and we best believe that these are just some of the hats he wears! He believes in giving his best in all that he does whilst living with an intellectual disability, even if sometimes that means overstretching himself. This superhero strives to be a better athlete, dad, and role model to his daughters every single day! 

The Superhero Who Coaches To Make Lives Better 

“Personally, as a sportsman, I do not feel that I have achieved my fullest potential. But as a coach, witnessing the accomplishments of our athletes and knowing that I had played a role in their success, is enough for me. Through them, I have achieved my dreams! 

– Nischal Nishal Karan 

Good coaches change games, great coaches transform lives. Nischal Nishal Karan is not just a great coach, but a father figure to numerous students in Fiji. As a teacher and coach, he constantly comes up with creative ways to conduct his lessons outdoors, using fun games to capture the attention of his students and helping those with intellectual disabilities learn in an inclusive environment.  

The proudest moment of his life was when his student, Molly Esther, was awarded the title of ‘Fiji’s Sportswoman Of The Year’. He felt like a proud dad. “I will never forget that moment in time, when a 16-year-old made history by becoming the first athlete with intellectual disability to receive the industry’s highest accolade,” says Nischal. “I was thankful to have been a part of Molly’s journey, watching her grow from a shy child to a confident sports star.”   

The Superhero Who Makes Miracles Happen 

People call Rachna Singh the ‘miracle child’, a miracle that couldn’t have been possible without unconditional love, support and trust from her superhero father, Kuldip Singh.  

When her father found out she was a special child, it broke his heart, but not his spirit! His salary as a Head Constable with the Haryana Police Force couldn’t cover the fees of a private special education school, but he was determined to provide the best education and resources to his daughter. Despite limited means, he hired private coaches to enable her to fulfil her ambition as a professional skater. 

In 2020, Rachna’s dreams became reality when she was selected to represent India in short track speed skating in Sweden. “All I could think of while I was in the rink was winning the gold medal for Dad,” says Rachna. She gave it her all and eventually won two silver medals. It was one of the proudest moments for Rachna and her family!  

Empower these superheroes to build a more inclusive future for their children. To know more, visit @soasiapacific and @humanraceasia. 

The post Celebrating Real-Life Superheroes! appeared first on Human RACE.

I am an apprentice aluminium joiner, race car driver, basketball coach, and former athletes’ representative on New Zealand’s Special Olympics Board. I also have a full-time job at Design Windows Nelson and I’m a proud father of two.

In the eyes of many, I’m living the dream. What they don’t see is that juggling all my interests and responsibilities while living with an intellectual disability can mean that sometimes, I overstretch myself. But I believe in giving my best in all that I do.

My daughters, Lilly-Rose and Violet, are the lights of my life! Simple joys like making breakfast for them and dropping them off at school are the highlights of my day. Sometimes, spending quality time with my family gets difficult, but we always find a way. To me, family is the most important thing in this world.

I often struggle with reading and writing, since my disability mostly affects my speech. Sometimes, I have to say one sentence five times for people to understand. I used to speak really fast. But I’ve learnt to slow down and speak clearly now.  

Growing up, I got picked on and bullied in school. But that didn’t stop me from going after my passion. I always showed a flair for sport. At primary school, I played basketball, cricket, and took part in track and field. Only after I left school was I introduced to Special Olympics. Being a shy kid throughout school, I was surprised at my own capabilities and discovered a side to me that even I didn’t know. I was a leader, a public speaker, and an advocate!

Ever since High School, I dreamt of representing my country. This became reality when I was selected to attend the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai. I returned with a gold medal and decided to give back to the field of basketball, a sport that got me where I am today. Basketball taught me the biggest lesson in life, which I now often tell my students. That is – if you miss a shot, keep going; if you fall, just get back up. Because if you don’t try, you don’t succeed. So never stop trying! 

Through it all, my wife Nyssa has been my pillar of support. She’s always right there, looking out for me. We have been married for 13 years. Our daughters, now aged 9 and 2, are the most important thing in both of our lives.

“What I love about Graeme is how he makes me smile with his quirky comments. He might have a disability, but it just doesn’t matter, as long as you are in love and you know there’s so much more to a person than their disability!” – Nyssa Porter, Graeme’s wife.

I’m grateful for this little world I’ve been blessed with. Life may not always be perfect, but I’m learning to be a better dad, a better human, and better athlete every single day. I’ve found that in life if you give respect to others, you get respect back. My wish is simple – just to be happy and pretty much enjoy what I do!

To be an ally and learn the stories of people with intellectual disabilities like Graeme, follow @humanraceasia and @soasiapacific.

The post My Perfectly Imperfect Little World appeared first on Human RACE.

Meet three Special Olympics athletes living with autism to understand, accept and embrace their uniqueness:

• Grace Payne: She’s a basketball champ from New Zealand who’s carving a niche for herself in the circuit nationally and internationally. This Special Olympics athlete leader competes in basketball, football and powerlifting, and has been a passionate advocate for creating inclusive environments that allow people with intellectual disabilities to thrive and lead their best lives.
  
  “What needs to be understood is, people are born with autism. They do not develop it. It’s a neurological disease. And all people with autism are different. One person might not have the same symptoms as another. Autism is not linear in nature. I like to see it as more of a wheel with different colors, where each color represents a different aspect, like communicative abilities, sensory needs etc. While I might be able to communicate properly, I can have trouble driving. Likewise, someone else might be able to drive with ease, but have difficulty in communication. 

• Haseeb Abbasi:  He is a business owner from Pakistan. While it was an uphill task for him to convince landowners that people with autism like himself are capable of running successful enterprises, he never gave up. He met with a lot of resistance, and many people he approached turned him away.  But passion and grit have shaped his dreams into reality.
  
  “My hope is to be able to work independently and earn my own living. My vision is that people with intellectual disabilities will all be given employment opportunities, and be empowered with skills to eventually run their own businesses.”

• Benjamin Haack: He is an athlete leader from Australia and has been involved in Special Olympics for 16 years. An inspirational athlete, accomplished football and cricket player, Ben has been fighting for inclusion at a national, regional, and global level as a member of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors. He has advocated the message of inclusion all over the world, and the importance of treating people with respect and dignity. He believes that our voices are the most powerful tool to change the world.
  
  “Our society still works in a way where people believe that those with intellectual disabilities offer very little value and that we must prepare the family and the community for the worst. It is a common mindset that people like me are full of defects, and we need extra resources and attention in order to get anything out of us. If we slow down and provide everyone with an inclusive environment to show what they can do, the results can be amazing.”
  
  This World Autism Day, we’re coming together to create a more inclusive and unified world, where everyone can achieve their potential and live their dreams. Will you join us in creating One World?

The post Celebrating World Autism Day – Shine On! appeared first on Human RACE.

– Grace Payne

Meet Grace Payne, a Special Olympics New Zealand athlete leader with autism who competes in basketball, football, and powerlifting. She has been a passionate advocate for creating inclusive environments that allow people with intellectual disabilities to thrive and lead their best lives. Want to know how to be a better ally and create a more inclusive world?  Grace shares some answers as she gives us a glimpse into her typical day.   

Question: What is a typical day like for you?
Answer: I wake up, have breakfast, which is usually oats and protein because it tastes great and is good for my health. I follow a diet plan given to me by my coach. I love taking time out to do some activities that make me happy, like painting my nails or making tie-dye shirts, I also love to do makeup from time to time!

Question: What was school like for you?
Answer: I quite liked school. I know a lot of people didn’t, but it was different for me. I have attended mainstream schools as well as schools for children with special needs. My favorite subjects were music and physical education. I also loved the Individual Evaluation Program, where each student has individual goals that he or she aims to achieve. Speaking of least favorite subjects, honestly, I don’t think I had any!

Question: How are mainstream schools different from schools for students with special needs?
Answer: One of the primary differences in schools for students with special needs was that they make learning as visual as possible. The timetables, mode of teaching, stories- all of it is visual.

Question: What were some challenges you faced at school?
Answer: Although fitting into school wasn’t a big obstacle for me, I did face a few challenges. Finger-pointing children, questioning “what’s wrong with you?”, “Are you pregnant?” it’s just hurtful. I wish people would stop doing that. As someone who faced bullying during childhood, I think the best advice I have for people who might be going through something similar in their life is- please talk about it. I didn’t, but I should have. Talk to people you trust. They can be your friends, family, teachers, anyone you feel comfortable with!

Question: What did you pursue in higher education and what did you like most about your education?
Answer: I’ve studied Early Childhood Education to fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher for children with and without intellectual disabilities. During my education in Early Childhood studies, I grew particularly fond of the subject ‘Cultural Partnerships’, where the cultures, ethnicities, and religions of students across the world are taught to aspiring teachers. I believe it’s an important subject because, in my opinion, everybody needs to learn a little bit about different cultures, to make the world more inclusive. I met people from across the globe, I made friends. It’s been amazing!

Question: What are common misconceptions about people with intellectual disabilities?
Answer: People often tend to believe that those with intellectual disabilities can’t be independent and rely on others to live their lives. A lot of us can live independently, like everyone else. We can work, we can go to school, we can carry out tasks. Some people may take longer than others to do things, and that’s okay. We all adapt differently.

Question: What do you wish people knew about autism?
Answer: The first thing is, people are born with autism. They do not develop it. It’s a neurological disease. The second thing is- all people with autism are different. One person might not have the same symptoms as another. People think of autism as a spectrum, somewhat linear in nature. I like to see it as more of a wheel with different colors, where each color represents a different facet, like communicative abilities, sensory needs etc. While I might be able to communicate properly, I can have trouble driving. Likewise, someone else might be able to drive with ease, but have difficulty in communication.

Question: How do you build awareness about people with intellectual disabilities?
Answer: I like social media. I use it as a medium for raising awareness. One thing we all can and must do is help our families and friends understand intellectual disability better. The cycle doesn’t stop with one person. You educate your friends; they educate theirs and so on. Another thing I do is visit schools or organizations and talk about intellectual disability. I think it’s imperative to educate children, so that they grow up to ask the right questions. People can be curious, but they tend to overlook the need to word their questions properly. Instead of saying “what’s wrong with you”, the question should be “what’s your disability?”

Question: What have you been working on lately?
Answer: I’m currently working on a transportation app like Uber with Jack Green, a Youth Leader. The app, named ‘SOGO’ is built for the Special Olympics community of people with intellectual disabilities. The idea is to have volunteer drivers pick up athletes and drop them to trainings, to make sure nobody feels excluded. I think if we take away their feelings of isolation and exclusion, we can improve their mental health!

Grace’s hope is to see this world become a more inclusive place for people like her. Her advice to all of us? “Life doesn’t come with a manual; I didn’t get one. Keep being yourself, don’t change for anyone! Whatever you’re going through, you’ll get through it. I promise you!”

The post Leading The Way For An Inclusive World appeared first on Human RACE.

Talking to Sarah Dalton for the first time barely gives you a glimpse into the hardships she’s overcome — she’s one of the most cheerful people you will encounter. Within a week of being born, she was diagnosed with CHARGE Syndrome, a rare condition that affects almost all of her senses and organs, including her heart and brain. She used to visit the hospital at least 20 times a year until she was 7, and she’s had 32 surgeries so far. Till she was 8, she was fed through a tube. She uses a glass eye and has limited vision in her right eye. Living with CHARGE Syndrome forces Sarah to make an active effort to work on tasks many of us take for granted. She has to think about her balance, sitting, seeing, hearing, swallowing, and even breathing.

Not one to let that stop her from living in the fullest sense of the word, Sarah, now 24, has some cool workarounds that have helped her all these years. She sets an alarm on her phone to remind herself to swallow every few seconds, and has a soft diet that helps her swallow easily – ham and cheese sandwiches top the list. Though she cannot experience taste, it hardly affects her tremendous love for cheese! She also exercises regularly to help with motor functioning and fitness. 

Growing up with different needs meant that she’s often had to deal with being singled out. When she was younger, her friends in school would look out for the little girl who looked like a doll and take special care of her. But in her intermediate years, the bullying and name-calling began. People said and did things that truly hurt her. They ran away from her, and shunned her. She was tormented by one particularly vicious bully who used to call her names and say he would blow her head off. One day, he actually threw a rock at her head. But Sarah has maintained her unwavering belief that people have good hearts. Her personal mantra? It‘s cool to be kind.

At Special Olympics New Zealand, Sarah is an athlete leader; one among the many feathers in her hat. She has been an equestrian athlete for a while now, having won accolades for the sport on a national level. The one that she thinks is pretty awesome is the trophy she won at the Bartley’s Riding Academy where she competed against able- bodied people and came out on top! She’s been a Girl Guide, she’s a dancer and a swimmer, too. “Pretty awesome” is an understatement. 

With an incredible zest for new experiences and navigating life’s choppy waters with utmost grit, Sarah brings a never-say-never attitude to the table very few can fathom, and everyone aspires to. She recently starred in an episode of Power Rangers Dino Fury on Nickelodeon, and one can only imagine what lies ahead. There is nothing that can stop her today. As she puts it, “at horse riding, I legit get back on the horse, but in life in general, I always try to get back on the horse; climb that mountain again.” 

“I guess I’m really tough.” 

We couldn’t agree more. 

The post A winner in every right 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.

From a young age, Jack enjoyed spending time with Special Olympics athletes and other volunteers who always made him feel included and welcomed. These experiences fostered Jack’s belief in the power of sports to promote inclusion, where every individual is able to participate in a sport or activity they enjoy. Following his mother’s footsteps, Jack is now an official Special Olympics coach for swimming and basketball since 2015.

In acknowledgement of his leadership potential that extends beyond sports, Jack was selected to represent Special Olympics New Zealand at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Youth for Inclusion Summit in 2019. The Summit has reinforced his firm desire to spread awareness on intellectual disability and inclusion.

The post Jack Green appeared first on Human RACE.

In 2017, she also became an assistant coach in basketball. In high school, she was the first person with autism to perform in the school’s wind band and compete in the school’s basketball team. Grace has also been trained as an Athlete Leader since 2017.

Outside of Special Olympics, Grace is currently studying Early Childhood Education level 4 as she would like to become a teacher for children with and without intellectual disabilities. Being involved with Special Olympics has given her opportunities to experience inclusion in her community and form lasting friendships. During her term as the co-chair of the Regional Athlete Input Council, Grace hopes to see greater inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.

The post Grace Payne appeared first on Human RACE.