The first time I encountered a child with intellectual disabilities, I wasn’t sure how to interact with her. We were at a football workshop conducted by Special Olympics Papua New Guinea back in 2013. The child, who has Down Syndrome, refused to play but pointed at the ball and kept repeating, “soccer, soccer, soccer”. 

I witnessed how the coaches patiently coaxed her out of her shell, using sports to help her gain confidence. By the end of the workshop, she was running around playing with the other children, with a wide smile on her face. There were children, with and without intellectual disabilities, playing together happily without inhibitions. In fact, it was impossible to tell them apart. 

I was convinced at that moment, of the unifying power of sports. It marked the start of my  journey as a volunteer coach with the Special Olympics, and it’s been impossible to look back since. 

I’ve seen how the movement has changed lives. Raphael Ottoase is one of our Special Olympics athletes in Papua New Guinea. He has been living in a disability home and for years, he hardly got any visits from his family. When he got involved in Special Olympics initiatives, which included sports and leadership development, he became a whole new person. He started smiling and laughing a lot more and wasn’t afraid to speak up. 

For the first time in his life, he felt empowered. At the ripe old age of 52, Raphael made his very first trip out of Papua New Guinea to Singapore, to represent the country in a  leadership conference. The experience was life-changing. It changed his family’s perception too, helping them realize that Raphael was capable of so much more than they imagined.  

Raphael, like so many other athletes, has put Papua New Guinea on the world map. In 2015, we sent a team to the Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Los Angeles, and made our country proud by bringing home medals in athletics. In 2019, our athletes went to the  World Games in Abu Dhabi and delivered a clean sweep of medals in shot put, among other  achievements. It is absolutely amazing to witness what our athletes are capable of, when given the opportunity to shine. 

For many of these athletes, it is their first time competing and representing their country on the global stage. The exposure and confidence gained are transformative for all of us. To be honest, I’ve never travelled before being a part of the movement. Since 2013, I have been exposed to so many people from all over the world who are doing their bit to promote inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, and it’s humbling to know I’m part of this global community.

We have a long road ahead of us. Companies need to be more inclusive, hire more people with intellectual disabilities, and fund organizations like ours so that we can do more for our athletes. Parents need to change their mindsets, expose their children with disabilities to experiences, and not hide them at home in shame. More volunteers need to come forward, to be guardians, mentors and coaches to our athletes. The public needs to open their hearts and minds, to interact with our athletes and befriend them. 

It is my hope that we will one day see a truly inclusive world, where people do not just tolerate but accept unconditionally. To borrow a quote, “Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice, and belonging is having that voice be heard.”

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I remember the day that one of my Special Olympics athletes fainted on the field. We were conducting try-outs for the football team.

There was a girl who was extremely enthusiastic and excited to play. I was thrilled to see such energy in her.

During the first half of the game, she fainted without warning. I was the only coach around, and I immediately rushed her to the hospital to seek medical attention. It turned out that she was so excited about the try-outs she had skipped breakfast that morning.

That night, I stayed with her at the hospital and thought about how fortunate we were to have each other’s company. 

I am thankful that my family is supportive and shares the same passion as me. They don’t hold it against me for spending long hours training and being with the athletes. Occasionally, I even bring my children along to my coaching sessions – they sometimes partner up with the athletes to get some action on the court!

As a parent, I know I must expose my children to people with intellectual disabilities, and teach them to always show love, kindness and, respect. By educating them from a young age, I hope to positively shape their perception of people who are different from them.

In the eyes of the public, people with intellectual disabilities are seen to be very vulnerable and are therefore often treated differently. There may be times where this is necessary, but altogether, they should not be thought of as helpless or less capable than us. They have hidden qualities and abilities. Given the right opportunities and motivation, they can really blossom to become successful individuals.

I have learnt lots in the past five years as a coach at Special Olympics Papua New Guinea.  I picked up sign language, learnt how to manage the behavior of children with intellectual disabilities, and how to communicate better with them.

There have been a few athletes with Down Syndrome who have played for my team. When they score a goal, their faces light up immediately. That is one of the most gratifying moments for me as a coach.

With these children, I learn as much from them as I hope they do from me. This experience has helped to build my character, allowing me to become a better version of myself.

For one, I have learnt to be more patient and resilient. As a volunteer, one of the biggest challenges I faced was that of miscommunication with the athletes. At times, they would fail to understand my intentions and misinterpret me, resulting in them getting upset.

Instead of getting frustrated and worsening the situation, I learnt to be patient and slowly built trust with them – eventually, all misunderstandings would be resolved.   I encourage everyone to volunteer in any way they can. There are certainly sacrifices that must be made along the way. To me, these children with intellectual disabilities are worth the sacrifice.

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