This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Montgomery County Special Olympics

Olney, MD, May 1, 2011:  Rain or shine, student athletes from Westover Elementary School will participate in the State of Maryland - Montgomery County Special Olympics Spring Games beginning at noon at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School.  These athletes are helping to curb obesity in children with Autism by joining the Special Olympics of Maryland - Montgomery County Organization. According to Curtin et al., (2010), obesity is a significant problem in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  The prevalence of obesity in children with autism is about 30% as compared to 24% of children without autism. "Children with ASDs ...have atypical physical activity and eating patterns that are uniquely associated with the development of obesity" (Curtin et al. p. 5).  By training for the Special Olympics of Maryland - Montgomery County, children with Autism at Westover have had an opportunity to participate in their community and develop confidence in themselves through physical activities.  Athletes will compete in the following spring Track and Field activities: soft ball toss, javelin throw, standing broad jump, and either the 50-, 100-, or 200-meter yard dash, and the 400-meter yard relay.  To prepare for the games, Westover's National Elementary Honor Society (WNEHS) has provided each Olympian a peer coach from the general education setting who will cheer and encourage each Olympian through the practices and actual games. These Olympic-type sports activities give "continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community".

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?