Southwest IL is home to 1,170 Special Olympics athletes. Here’s how you can volunteer
The Special Olympics and the Parent Teacher Organization for Exceptional Children both provide athletic opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in Belleville.
The PTOEC is a Bellville-based organization founded in 1966, two years before the Special Olympics emerged. It serves more than 150 athletes in the metro-east area, and the organization offers 12 sports, including bocce ball, gymnastics and track and field.
Coordinating secretary Jennifer Otero said bowling is the most popular sport in the area, because of its accessibility and the fact that it is an indoor sport, so it is not affected by weather.
The PTOEC is not only a source of athletic opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, but also a social outlet providing dances, movie nights, scavenger hunts, Friday fun nights and more.
“It’s really about building friendships and lifelong lessons that they can take to live more independent lives,” Special Olympics Region J Director Justin Dunning said of the PTOEC.
Otero first got involved with the PTOEC when her daughter, who was 8 years old at the time, started participating in the organization’s activities.
“The school doesn’t always offer those kind of sports if your kid has, let’s say, Down syndrome,” Otero said. “That would be their only opportunity to be able to participate in a sport with their peers.”
People with intellectual disabilities who are interested in joining the PTOEC can for a $40 yearly fee. Otero said the fee contributes to uniform and facility costs, and some activities will have an additional $5 cost.
Potential participants will need their doctor to fill out a physical form for them, to promote safety. Practice schedules for in-season sports are available online.
The PTOEC has a park in Belleville called Field of Dreams, where softball, trunk-or-treat events and movie nights occur.
The metro-east is also home to Region J of the Special Olympics, which is affiliated with the PTOEC. There are 1,170 athletes in the region, which encompasses St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Washington, Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Fayette, Jersey and Macoupin counties.
How to volunteer at upcoming events
There is a gymnastics competition from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 24 at World Class Gymnastics in Belleville. The event is free to attend, and Dunning said he expects about 50 athletes to participate. The Special Olympics needs 10 to 15 outside volunteers to help run the competition.
“There’s definitely something for every kind of individual or family. We really encourage whole families to come out,” Dunning said.
Another metro-east event coming up is the Region J Spring Games in Edwardsville May 15.
“We could not do it all without volunteers. Volunteers can get with our agencies and become coaches; most of our agencies need coaches,” Dunning said. “At our spring games competition in the past, we’ve had up to 400 athletes. Generally, that event will have 200 to 300 volunteers.”
If you are interested in volunteering with the Special Olympics, contact Region J’s assistant director, Steve Whitlatch, at 618-248-8558 or email swhitlatch@soill.org. You can also register online to volunteer.
Fundraisers and donations for the Special Olympics
The Region J Foz Ryan Golf Classic is a fundraiser scheduled for May 27 in Edwardsville. It costs $100 per person to participate, which includes the green fee, cart fee and lunch.
The event is open to all golfers, regardless of age or skill level. After registering for the event, golfers will select a tee time. Participants must bring their own clubs.
Jersey Mike’s will donate 100% of the day’s sales from 80 Illinois locations March 30. The proceeds will help send 105 local Team Illinois delegates to the 2022 Special Olympics Games in Orlando, Fla.
Donations to the Special Olympics can be made online.
