Do you remember your first experience with Special Olympics? For 15 athletes in South Central Ontario, that day was January 21, the day Milton Special Olympics started a new FUNdamentals program for children with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) between the ages of 7 and 12.
Led by trained coaches and volunteers, the FUNdamentals program features fun interactive activities designed to show the value of sports through a non-competitive setting. That means athletes are able to learn basic skills needed for specific sports (such as throwing, kicking, catching, and dribbling) without the complexity of a sport’s full rules and restrictions. Developing these key skills results in children with IDD feeling more prepared to enter a competitive environment in the future.
“The first session went very well,” says Pratima Bhatt, Program Consultant for South Central Ontario. She attended the first meeting of Milton’s FUNdamentals Club, saying “parents and athletes were very involved, [they] participated, and enjoyed all the activities.”
Just like our other programs, the benefits of the FUNdamentals program go beyond physical abilities and motor skills. FUNdamentals addresses the importance of healthy nutrition and family involvement, creates a space to boost self-esteem and confidence, and provides additional opportunities to socialize with peers. All of these elements encourage growth in social and cognitive abilities for our athletes, preparing children with IDD for future success in athletic programs and everyday activities.
With the introduction of the FUNdamentals program, Milton Special Olympics joins other communities across Ontario who have seen great success with programming for this age group, expanding inclusive opportunities for children with IDD across the province.