MUNCIE, Ind - The Special Olympics of Indiana, is a nonprofit part of the global Special Olympics movement, using sport, health, education and leadership programs to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities.
Their mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
For Delaware County, their basketball season is well underway, but these games are just a part of their goal.
“The thing we try to do in Special Olympics is to empower our athletes to be able to go out there and voice their own concerns,” Special Olympics President and CEO Jeff Mohler said. “We want them to speak on their own behalf, and they don’t need me to do that.”
The organization's impact extends beyond the court. With more than 20,000 athletes and Unified partners, they use the sport as a way to make a community. For one player, every game is more than just basketball.
“Pretty much since my daughter died, I was in a dump and everything else, but it brought me back,” Josh Denton said.
Denton has been playing with the Delaware County Cardinals for two years. Basketball to him is not just about the points; it’s about teamwork.
“Teamwork is when you actually have to trust other people on your team, or else it’s not going to work out.”
The Delaware County Cardinals coach, Barb Cox, oversees the team's operations. She says the strength of the team comes from each other.
“Yes, they have a disability, but everybody has something that makes them unique,” Cox said. “All of these guys try their best and their hardest, and they just want to be involved.”
Cox and the Delaware County Cardinals plan to continue their momentum going through the rest of their season. To get involved in the program, visit their website.
Contact Amelia Winter with comments at amelia.winter@bsu.edu.
