WYOMING COUNTY, WV (WOAY-TV)- The Special Olympics is back in Wyoming County after almost 40 years since they last had the program.
This program brings together kids ages 8 and up who have a variety of disabilities from Down Syndrome to Spina Bifida and more. They’ve only just started, but they’re excited to see where this program can go.
“So we have a lot of things planned. We’re starting on a smaller scale this year, we’re going to start with two sports, basketball and cheerleading. We plan to have a county game at some point,” said Holly Hale, Local program director for Special Olympics Wyoming County.
For Tom Riser, he’s excited for his son, who has autism, to have this opportunity to connect with others in ways that otherwise he may not be able to.
“They’re they’re able to form friendships with these team members. Maybe they go to a different school, maybe they’re home school, you know, he’s going to meet a lot of kids that he normally wouldn’t meet. And be in a lot of places that he wouldn’t normally be at, right,” said Tom Riser, Parent of student participating, and media director for SOWC. “And have experiences like, you know, maybe traveling for a ballgame, which is something that the, quote-unquote, normal kids do all the time. Right. But he doesn’t have that opportunity. And so I hope that it will broaden his horizons.”
The program is free for all families who wish to send their kids to Special Olympics Wyoming county.
“So for public school students in Wyoming County, we have a paperwork representative at every school that will take your child’s application, which is an athletic registration form,” explained Hale.
These forms can be found on their Facebook page or the special Olympics website.
Facebook: Special Olympics Wyoming County
Website: sowv.org
The basketball and cheer seasons begin on January 3rd, so there’s still time to sign up. If you’re on the fence about sending your kid for the first tip-off or cheer — a fellow parent has one piece of advice.
“Give your kids a chance to expand their horizons,” said Riser
