For more than 50 years, Special Olympics has been fighting for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities by using sports as a catalyst for systematic change. Our movement is driven by a restless dissatisfaction with the status quo.

Today, we invite you to listen to the voices of our athletes, the leaders in The Revolution is Inclusion, fighting to end acts of discrimination and exclusion of all types.

"Everybody wants to have a voice, but when you're always being pushed away, it makes it tough. Special Olympics--a place where everyone is included--helped me learn how powerful my voice, as a black, female, human being could be. Until the world sees that everyone should be included no matter what you look like, how you live, or where you come from then nothing will ever change. True change is never comfortable, but you can start it by finding your voice and starting a conversation about inclusion."
- Loretta Claiborne, Chief Inspiration Officer; Vice-Chair, Board of Directors

"When you see something like that, it just traumatizes you as an African American male. Every day that I walk out of this house, I'm a target, especially in my circumstances of being 6'3". Now sometimes, when I pause and I am trying to get my thoughts together or I have anxiety, the police officer may not know I have a disability. That stuff scares me. I dress urban. I dress like I am a basketball player. And that's what they call 'thug' or 'hood'. I'm not hood. I'm Antrone Juice Williams. I'm a leader for Special Olympics. I'm a leader for my community. I'm a leader for the people who don't have a voice.
I hope others can learn to better understand what I feel. I hope that they realize that every time an African American walks out, whether male or female, what we go through on an everyday basis, not knowing if we are going to come home."
-Antrone Juice Williams, Athlete, Special Olympics Ohio

"If everyone in the world experienced inclusion, we wouldn't have as many problems as we see today, such as racism. Everyone would be more accepting and proactive. If people had that understanding of differences, we wouldn't be in the situation with so much hate today. It would all just be love. If everyone was committed to making the world a more equal place, remembering that Inclusion is Key like in Special Olympics, we would reach these goals. Accept people you normally don't speak to. In Special Olympics, we are a family, with multiple races, which shows that through inclusion we can be better than racism. People can feel inclusion, I have. You can see people who aren't like you and can accept them for who they are. Always remember that inclusion is key."
- Tajha Ilerant, U.S. Youth Ambassador, Special Olympics Florida

"Today, we are seeing an exposure of our differences exploding before our eyes. Many people are different because of the color of their skin. Many are different because of their cultural backgrounds, their religious beliefs, interests, professions, economic status, accents, age, class, sexual orientation, even disabilities. The reason I am posting this is because I am different on account of my autism. I was treated differently than others for most of my life. What I have discovered is that there are people out there who are either afraid or not willing to accept any differences. At the end of the day, one thing is certain about ourselves: We are people; living, breathing human beings."
-Tyler Lagasse, Athlete, Special Olympics Massachusetts

Stand with us,

Special Olympics Team
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