thePULSEBy Rachel Shuster
The Special Olympics of Massachusetts (SOMA) is an organization bringing the love of sports and activities to those individuals with intellectual disabilities through year-round sports training and athletic competition. SOMA also provides ongoing training opportunities for athletes to prep for community and school athletic programs, as well as ongoing support for individuals’ confidence and friendship building through the program.
Originated in the early 1960s by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, SOMA began as a day camp where people with intellectual disabilities participated in sporting events. Over time, SOMA has grown into an organization present in over 160 countries and made up of around 3.3 million participating athletes from every U.S. state.
SOMA is organized into three levels in the state of Massachusetts: Local, Sectional, and State. The Local level is comprised of programs participating in sports training and competition intra-area. The Sectional level includes numerous areas that receive assistance from a Sectional Director to strengthen these area programs. The State level offers a strong sense of leadership to the program, has several fundraising activities, holds five major competitions, and provides management of all sports.
Depending on the season, SOMA offers training and competition for various sports and activities. In the winter, there is skiing, basketball, figure skating, floor hockey, snowboarding and bowling. The summer offers gymnastics, roller-skating, tennis, volleyball and track and field. The fall offers bocce, fishing, golf and softball. SOMA also offers sports for seniors including horseshoes and race walking.
While SOMA has various programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities, one of the most exciting programs in the Special Olympics University Curriculum. This program consists of courses that can be incorporated into university and college curriculums in Massachusetts. These classes provide students with education that is within the Special Olympics Coach Education System and Games Management Team Training. Through these courses, students have learn real-life experiences of what it is like organizing sports competitions, working with Special Olympic athletes, all while gaining college credit.
For more information about SOMA and the Special Olympics University Curriculum, visit www.specialolympicsma.org or contact George Kent, Director of Organizational Development, at 508-485-0986 Ext. 215.
Shrewsbury Special Needs Program participated in the Special Olympics Massachusetts Winter games on March 12 and 13th, 2011. Photo courtesy of the Shrewsbury Lantern.
