Involvement in Special Olympics and its relations to self-concept and actual competency in participants with developmental disabilities

2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Weiss ◽  
Terry Diamond ◽  
Jenny Demark ◽  
Benedicte Lovald
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Special Olympics

Changes in Self-Concept and Cardiovascular Endurance of Mentally Retarded Youths in a Special Olympics Swim Training Program

1986 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Wright ◽  
Jo E. Cowden
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Mentally Retarded ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Walk Test ◽  
Special Olympics ◽  
Cardiovascular Endurance

Although It has been said that Special Olympics competition contributes significantly to the physical fitness and self-concept of mentally retarded participants, no experimental research has been reported on the Special Olympics program. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in self-concept and cardiovascular endurance of mentally retarded youths after participating in a Special Olympics swim training program. One group (N = 25) participated in a 10-week Special Olympics swim training program, while the control group (N = 25) adhered to their normal daily living activities. The 9-Minute Run/Walk test yielded the data for measuring cardiovascular endurance, and the Piers and Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale was selected to measure self-concept. Results of the analysis of variance for each test were significant. It was concluded from the findings of this study that participation of mentally retarded youth in a Special Olympics swim training program contributed to a significant increase in self-concept and cardiovascular endurance.

Individual and Contextual Correlates of Frequently Involved Special Olympics Athletes

2018 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Robinson ◽  
Jessica L. Fraser-Thomas ◽  
Robert Balogh ◽  
Yona Lunsky ◽  
Jonathan A. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Behavior Problems ◽  
Adaptive Behavior ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Special Olympics ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
External Supports ◽  
Highly Involved

Abstract It is important to understand factors associated with sport participation for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). With a sample of 414 Special Olympics (SO) athletes, this study examined how frequently involved athletes differ from other youth who are less involved in SO. Results showed that frequently involved athletes are older, have more sport-specific parental support, stronger athlete-coach relationships, and more positive SO experiences than other athletes. These factors were predictive of SO involvement, even after controlling for athlete characteristics, including behavior problems and adaptive behavior. Athletes with IDD have the potential to be highly involved in sports when external supports (i.e., coaches and parents) are strong.

The Canadian Question: What's So Great About Intelligence?

1996 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Koch
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Organ Transplantation ◽  
Television News ◽  
Down's Syndrome ◽  
Down’S Syndrome ◽  
Gold Medal ◽  
Waiting List ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Special Olympics ◽  
Transplant Candidates

A personable teenager with Down's syndrome became a Canadian cause célèbre a few months ago when University Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, denied him a position on the organ transplantation waiting list. Terry Urquart lacked “reasonable” intelligence, hospital officials said, a criterion for all transplant candidates at that hospital. Protests by the boy's family, and by groups active in the cause of those with developmental disabilities, became well-photographed stories on the nightly television news and in the nation's newspapers. It did not hurt the Urquart cause one bit that the 17-year-old teenager had won a gold medal in skiing at the International Special Olympics.

Behavioral Coaching of Track Athletes With Developmental Disabilities: Evaluation of Sprint Performance During Training and Special Olympics Competition

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 264-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Luiselli ◽  
Neelima G. Duncan ◽  
Patrick Keary ◽  
Elizabeth Godbold Nelson ◽  
Rebecca E. Parenteau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Performance Feedback ◽  
Video Modeling ◽  
Positive Reinforcement ◽  
Dependent Measure ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Special Olympics ◽  
Baseline Phase ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Behavioral Coaching

We evaluated several behavioral coaching procedures with two young adults who had intellectual and developmental disabilities and were preparing for a Special Olympics track event. The primary dependent measure was their time running a 100 m sprint. Following a baseline phase, the athletes were coached to improve sprint times through different combinations of goal setting, performance feedback, positive reinforcement, and video modeling. In a sequential design, the average sprint time of both athletes was lower during intervention conditions compared with baseline. Following intervention, they ran faster than their baseline average in competition at a regional Special Olympics event. We discuss intervention and research issues in behavioral coaching of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

scholarly journals Quality of Participation Experiences in Special Olympics Sports Programs

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Kelly P. Arbour-Nicitopoulos ◽  
Natasha Bruno ◽  
Krystn Orr ◽  
Roxy O’Rourke ◽  
Virginia Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Special Olympics ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sports Programs

This cross-sectional study examined experiential elements facilitating quality sport experiences for youth (ages 12–24 years) in Special Olympics, and the associated influences of sport program and sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 451 athletes involved in the 2019 Special Olympics Youth Games completed a survey assessing elements of quality participation (autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery, and meaning). The t tests investigated whether athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities rated elements differently across Traditional and Unified Sport programs. Regression analyses explored whether sport program and sociodemographic characteristics were predictors of these elements. Youth reported high mean scores across the elements, with no significant differences between athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Traditional or Unified Sport. Athletes with no reported disability rated higher autonomy than those who reported disability (p = .01). Women tended to report greater engagement in sport than men (p = .07). Findings provide theoretical and practical insights into quality sport participation among youth in Special Olympics.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document