Two years ago as an emblematic high school athlete, I along with my teammates went to support our middle school basketball team. In this setting I came across several people who are not as passionate about special needs children as I am. They have come across as being disrespectful in situations involving special needs children; which is heartbreaking as those children are my passion.
Being that I have grown up playing basketball and relish it, I decided to go and support our middle school basketball team after practice one day along with a few teammates. Upon arrival, I was instantaneously drawn to watch the opponent during their warm up. A special something caught my eye; a young little boy with Down syndrome was playing. It is unusual to
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The moment I heard that I turned over my shoulder and glanced at them, hoping they would get a clue. That there hit hard and exasperated me to my max. As ignorant young children they disrespected me and continued to loudly talk down on him and that is when is deciding to step up and go stick up for what I love. It was unacceptable that there were so many people sitting directly beside them that did not say a word to them about what it right. I went and sat beside them and began to explain to them that it is just life and they should respect him for who he is regardless of his needs. They looked at me like I was imprudent but as I continued to talk to them about the situation they were a little less heartless. I just explained to them that they have no right to talk down and disrespect the young boy with Down syndrome who cannot stand up for himself and the fact that he has special needs was out of his hands. I just feel like everyone should be treated equally and that means that he should be able to play the sport of basketball in which he loves just the way his teammates did without being judged or treated
It was a sad day nothing could make me happy anymore. I had been sad from the first moment I read the paper. I kept reading the list I must have read it at least ten times. Over and over again kept seeing the same names. None of the names were mine. I had finally realized I did not make the team. I was heartbroken all I have ever wanted just slipped out of my grasp. “It’s ok you’ll make it next year”, said my friend Warren. But what he couldn’t understand was that I wanted it to happen that year. I wanted to make the basketball team that year.
The scariest thing that I have ever experienced was dislocating my knee during my high school basketball game. While attending Forestview High in 2013 the second game of the season, I acquired my knee injury against Highland Tech. I was very excited about the game because I worked very hard to take a senior spot and was finally getting the opportunity that I was waiting for. Everyday during practice, I gave my all, all the blood, sweat, and tears that I experienced I just knew it was my time. Tuesday, November 22 we get to Highland, warm up, and finally it's time for tip-off. The first quarter I get off to a rough start getting all the jitters out. Second quarter arrives, then I began to get the feel of the game. As I penetrated down the lane after hitting a mean crossover, I came to a jump stop
One of these causes, the Miracle League of the South Hills is particularly close to my heart. A friend of my mother has a child who is severely autistic, and all my life my family and I have volunteered for many organizations to help special needs children, of all of these Miracle League has left the greatest impression on me. Ghandi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” and that is exactly what has happened to me during my long term association with the Miracle League. I truly believe my association with this organization has helped me to become a better person, more kind, caring, outgoing, and energetic. Miracle League was founded on the belief that, “Every child deserves a chance to play baseball.” Miracle League operates specially designed fields on which they bring the game of baseball to children who may have never had the opportunity to play on a real field. I volunteer with the Miracle League Buddy program. The Buddy Program pairs volunteers with a Miracle League player to help the player The buddy is there to protect the player from balls, assist the player in batting and running the bases, and to be a friend on and off the field. I began volunteering as a buddy in 2012, and in 2014 I became a Buddy Organizer for my team, the Tigers. As Buddy Organizer I do exactly what it sounds like, I am in charge of pairing up players with a
Basketball is a big part of my life, one year ago in tournament final game two of our best players were hurt and the team was relying on me. With the time winding down on the clock we were down 8 points. Somehow I got our deficit down to two points with 30 seconds left, after an intense defensive stop 10 seconds remained on the clock; our coach called a timeout. A play was drawn up for me to take the shot. Mitchell inbounded the ball to me as I came off of a screen, I had an some-what wide open shot, I took the shot, you could hear the crowd go silent as the ball left my hand and headed towards the basketball. It felt like everything was going slow motion, the ball was getting closer and closer to the hoop and I…….missed it. The buzzer sounded
In the video we see Sean a child with Down syndrome included in a regular
Recently I went to a youth football game and was watching a group of 10 year olds play. After the game, I seen a boy that was on the losing team that was very upset over the loss. All of the other players on the teams lined up, giving each other high fives, and telling each other good game as an effort to show good sportsmanship. This boy, however, walked away from the group, took off his football helmet and threw it, began screaming, and was crying so hard he couldn’t catch his breath. The boy’s mother and coach walked over to him, trying to console the distraught child. Unfortunately, the positive words spoken by the coach only seemed to upset the boy further. The mother, looking completely mortified by her son’s behavior, took the boy by his arm and escorted him to the parking lot. He was having a complete meltdown, much like the two-year-old at the grocery
The team was disqualified on behalf of the “no taunting rule”, which includes raising your arms. A kid should be able to celebrate their own personal achievement. Unfortunately, this child, along with the rest of his teammates, cannot celebrate as it may offend the losing team, and whomever created the rules does not yearn to be “politically incorrect”. Then, there was a situation at a public school in California. A girl was told that she would not be permitted to wear a cross.
My role was to watch the teens, transport them from location to location and make sure they were having a good time. Before going to the camp I was a bit nervous of how the weekend was going to go. I was unsure of the capabilities of the teens. The camp started Friday afternoon but I did not start my hours until Saturday afternoon. I was first to go to the Lighthouse and get a Lighthouse vehicle. Then from there I met the students at the Marshall High School gym. When I arrived the staff, and the teens and their families were setting up a game called goal ball. Goal ball is a game where there is a ball that has bells in it, that is rolled across the gym floor into the opponents goal. The players have to then locate the ball by listening for it, and grabbing it making sure it doesn’t go into their goal. Then they roll it back towards the other team’s goal. I have never seen this game played, but the teens were having a fun time with it. Also, some of the parents and siblings played the game with the teens, who have a vision loss. Those who did not have a vision impairment received blinding goggles, so everyone had equal site abilities. I was surprise that some of the students also wore the goggles because they could still see a great deal. During the game, I supervised making sure no one was getting hurt and retrieving the
We have two gyms that we practice in. The “New Gym” has a distinctive smell. I think it smells like sweat and hard work. We always have worse practices in the new gym. I like practicing in our main gym. The good part about the new gym is that there are no stairs in the new gym. In the main gym, we must run stair laps, they are awful. Instead of running stairs in the new gym we must run down and backs.
These are only a couple solutions to create a better atmosphere for everyone. Special Olympics is just one of the many very impactful organizations that helps show the potential in each other even those with disabilities. By getting more people involved in Special Olympics it helps show the support for one another. The Kennedy Foundation subsequently promoted the creation of dozens of similar camps in the United States and Canada (“Special Olympics.”). For volunteers, coaches, and other supporters from all parts of the world, the games inspire hope and belief in a brighter future of global acceptance, understanding and unity (“Special Olympics Home Page”). We need more people to step up and be bold to go out and make a change.
They don’t have enough mental nor physical skill to do what we do.” He also brought up a few concerning questions such as “How would you react driving down the road, looking over to the car next to you, and seeing one with Down syndrome driving that car?” During our conversation, I started to put myself in his shoes. I can understand why most people would have disagreeing thoughts on this but, my view has me seeing that they can do whatever their mind sets them to do. There are plenty of adults with Down syndrome that do have the mentality to drive a car, become a college student, or even an Olympian.
We live in a world where sports are an essential part of our society because of the unity it brings and the lessons it teaches, such as hard work and dedication. In the United States, three out of four kids have played a sport. However, a majority of Down syndrome kids do not play organized sports. Down syndrome children are hindered from playing because of their disabilities. An event called "Special Games" will bring a solution to this problem.
Can you imagine playing the game of basketball without a three point line? Basketball has constantly changed throughout history and continues to change today. The National Basketball Association has risen in popularity and is now one of America’s more popular sports. Because basketball continues to be a popular sport, a fan should learn about the origin of the NBA, how the game evolved from the late 1940s to the early 2000s, and how the players today impact the way it is played.
Sullivan, Kathleen A., Patricia J Lantz. "Leveling the playing field or leaving the players? Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Interscholastic Sports." The Journal of Special Education (Winter 2000): 258
Down two with six seconds to go fatigue had taken it tolls on the players. With little energy left; over time was not an option. I knew I had to go for the win. I walk on the floor confident of my ability that was until the whistle blew quickly turning my confident to butterflies. As I fought to get open I quickly saw the ball coming my way. As I rose for a jump shot time itself began to stay still. An in flesh everything became silent. As I watch the ball leave my hand I envisioned greatness; sure the ball was on its way in I started to celebrate that was until I hear the announcer say my teammate tip in miss shot to win us the game. Mix with emotion I celebrate with my teammate. “Ok guys, we have 24 hours until tip off. Get some rest because this is going to be the biggest game of your life. Let’s bring this championship back to Barton College. Go Bulldogs and Goodnight!” Why few players stay in the lobby to hang out I took it talk upon to work on my game and reflect on the semifinal game that just took place. At basketball games you will notice how there are all sorts of fans attending the game.