TRACK AND FIELD SEMINOLE COUNTY SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Savannah Dowdy

savydowd@yahoo.com

April 23, 2010

EEX 4070

EARLY PERCEPTIONS

Overwhelmed, but ready for the challenge Great learning opportunity

Completely new and much needed experience

INTRODUCTION TO THE SETTING

Lake Mary high school which was

where we had practice every

Saturday morning.

Freedom High School- Area

Games Location.

The track next to the

bleachers was where we

spent most of our time

practicing.

INTRODUCTION TO THE SETTING CONT’D

This is the field where we would practice the

softball throw.

We called this area the “pit.” This

where we practiced the long jump and short jump events.

SITE/ COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS

PERSONAL DEMOGRAPHICS

Very little prior experience working with people with disabilities

Sincere love for running

So Special Olympics track and field coaching was perfect for me!

+ =

ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Leading warm-ups

We would perform warm-ups every Saturday morning before practice.

Exercises were led by athletes and volunteers.

ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES CONT’D

Timing and running events with athletes

That’s Me!

This is where the athletes practice their 100meter walks and runs. I’m at the end timing. We would do this every Saturday.

This is a picture of me running my leg of the relay with the athletes.

ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES CONT’D

Aiding with long jump and short jump Helping with the softball throw

This is the head coach helping an athlete with the short jump.

I would also catch balls for the softball throw.

We did both of these events every Saturday.

ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES CONT’D

Registering and getting athletes ready for the area games

This was the entrance for the area games. Before the games we had to dress and coordinate athletes according to their events.

This is the tent where I registered athletes for the 100 meter walk and run.

HOW I GOT STARTED

I heard about this opportunity through a classmate and decided to become an

assistant head coach for Special Olympics track and field.

PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS

Several different ages (from 14-59)

Ethnic backgrounds- primarily white, black, and Hispanic

Linguistic heritage- Spanish and English

Exceptionalities- down syndrome, autism, severe head trauma

Number of people served- 18 athletes, 3 volunteers, 2 coaches

REFLECTION OF MY EXPERIENCE Should not be afraid of

working with individuals with disabilities.

Extremely loving people. I learned the most simply

from talking with the athletes.

Made me appreciate life more and their amazing capabilities.

I’ve take away the importance of learning how to handle intense situations with ease.

TEACHING APPLICATIONS OF MY EXPERIENCE

Many more lessons are learned though experience.

Teach with more understanding. Be cognizant of tactics that will work for

students. Be patient. Your demeanor must be confident and

collected. These are amazing people who are capable

of extraordinary things.

Thank you!