Educational Opportunities
at the 2006 Special Olympics National Games

2006 Special Olympics U.S.A. National Games Symposium

Saturday, July 1st
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Reception 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
The Gateway Hotel and Conference Center, Ames, IA

Special Olympics will conduct a one-day symposium, to be held in conjunction with the first-ever Special Olympics USA National Games, which will highlight subjects ranging from health and fitness to attitude change and the impact of the Special Olympics movement.

The symposium will provide a forum to assess the current status of people with intellectual disabilities in the United States, to learn about new research findings, and to challenge one another on what needs to be done to meet the needs of this underserved and often overlooked population.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona will deliver the keynote address. Featured speakers include Timothy P. Shriver, Chairman of the Board, Special Olympics International, and Loretta Claiborne, Board Member of Special Olympics International and Special Olympics athlete. Other speakers will include government leaders and policymakers, health care practitioners, Special Olympics athletes, and academic experts in public health, education and employment. For more information and to register.

Congressional Field Hearing

Sunday, July 2nd
1:00 pm-3:00 pm
Benton Auditorium, Scheman Building, Ames, IA

A Congressional Hearing in Iowa? Come witness this ground breaking event and hear what Congress wants to know about intellectual disabilities.  Open to the public. Special Olympics athletes, family members, coaches and volunteers are encouraged to attend.

PRESIDING: U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, Ranking Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies

WITNESSES TO INCLUDE: 

• Julie Gerberding, MD, Director, Centers for Disease Control
• Timothy Shriver, Ph.D., Chairman, Special Olympics, Inc.
• Antonia Novello, MD, Commissioner of Health, New York State Health Department, former U.S. Surgeon General
• Kyler Prunty, Special Olympics Iowa athlete
• Family Member(s)
• Educator

National Youth Summit Forum

Monday, July 3rd
1 p.m.-3 p.m. Fisher Theater, Ames, IA

Special Olympics believes that youth are the future of the movement and therefore, looks for unique ways to engage and empower young people. In conjunction with the first-ever Special Olympics USA National Games to be help this July 2-7, a National Youth Summit will be conducted. During the Summit a National Youth Forum will take place on Monday, July 3rd bringing together 25 peer partners from across the nation, Special Olympics athlete leaders, and youth influencers and other notable celebrities. Special Olympics will have more than 200 young people with and without intellectual disability from Iowa attending the Youth Forum. The Forum will be an interactive discussion about relevant issues surrounding youth involvement in the Special Olympics movement, as well as an opportunity to unite youth in action for creating a more welcoming and accepting atmosphere for their peers with intellectual disabilities.

Agenda

12:30 p.m. National Youth Forum Guests Arrive at Fisher Theater
1:00 p.m.   Welcoming Remarks
1:15 p.m.   Interactive Warm-Up Program & Presentations by athlete entertainment group, High Tops
1:20 p.m.  Youth Attitudes Forum Discussions, hosted by Tom Arnold
2:30 p.m.  Youth Declaration Activity

For more information or to sign up to be included in this event, contact kiefferj@iastate.edu

Family Forum:  Building Family Leadership and Support in North America

Wednesday, July 5th
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Benton Auditorium, Scheman Building, Ames, IA

Thanks to the generous support of Wells Fargo, Kim Samuel-Johnson and the Samuel Family Foundation, Special Olympics is excited to invite you to participate in the 2006 USA National Family Forum on July 5th in Ames, Iowa. The Forum is an opportunity for families to offer their valuable and unique perspective on the future of Special Olympics in the United States, throughout North America and around the world.

Agenda

6:30-7:00 Arrival, Registration and Seating in Benton Auditorium
7:00-7:30 Brief Presentations from Special Olympics Leadership
7:45-8:30 Assigned Group Discussion
8:40-9:30 Reception and Entertainment

Group Discussion Topics

• Planning for the Future
• Involving Families: How can Special Olympics and Families Work Together?
• Local Special Olympics Program Development
• Health, Families and Special Olympics Athletes
• Education, Athletes and Families
• Athletes Becoming Adults

Space is limited to 4 family members per US Program
Pre-registration Required through Family Coordinators

Young Athletes: The Growing Future of Special Olympics

Thursday, July 6
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Benton Auditorium, Scheman, Ames, IA

Special Olympics is excited to invite you to attend an information session on the new Special Olympics Young Athletes™ program. The session is an opportunity for programs to gain an understanding of Young Athletes, how it has been implemented by Pilot Programs and how they can commence outreach to children with intellectual disabilities before they reach the age to be eligible to train and compete in Special Olympics.

Presenters

• Marc Edenzon, Executive Director, Special Olympics New Jersey (Founding Program)

• Jon Buzby, Director of Program Innovations, Special Olympics Delaware

• Holli Foye, Director of Outreach and Families, Special Olympics Texas

There will be opportunity following presentations for questions to the panel as well as opportunities to obtain resources and speak with Ben Daniels, Global Manager, Families & Young Athletes about starting Young Athletes in your Program.