"This movement has brought the attention, funding and awareness
to intellectually disabled people in a way that no one could have predicted."
~Marilyn Polito
Marilyn Polito
1. What is your involvement with Special Olympics? What special memories do you have?
"I was the volunteer coordinator for medical first aid at the State Special Olympic Games in Ames for 14 years. I organized around the clock medical first aid staff for the 3 days that the games were held annually on the ISU campus. It took 50 volunteers, mostly nurses and paramedics, to fulfill this mission. It was essential to the welfare of these athletes and their coaches who moved into Ames for the athletic events. We even stayed overnight in the same dorms as the athletic teams to assure that any emergencies were handled.
My favorite memories were of delivering emergency care and first aid to specific athletes with pre-existing medical conditions. Many of them would come back to us to show off their medals after receiving medical care from us. It was very special to share in their joy and achievements. One of my personal memories was of being recognized as the Volunteer of the Year at the 2009 Iowa game. I also had the privilege of coordinating medical care for a whole week at the first ever National Special Olympics in Ames in 2006. 10,000 athletes, coaches and family members from all over America attended, and it required hundreds of medical volunteers around the clock for a week! I moved into ISU for a week to be available 24/7 that week! It was a tremendous challenge and great success! And the founders of the Special Olympics movement, the Kennedy-Shriver family, were here to attend! That was really cool to meet them."
2. How has the development of Special Olympics been a turning point for the intellectually disabled? How has Special Olympics impacted the lives of the intellectually disabled, their families and society?
"This movement has brought the attention, funding and awareness to intellectually disabled people in a way that no one could have predicted. It gives the athletes pride, involvement, and a feeling of worth. The games celebrate healthy living and community wellness for this underserved population. It has become an international movement now that encompasses thousands of intellectually disabled. The coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators are so enriched by their involvement with Special Olympics that thousands return year after year to experience the spirit of these Games."
"I was the volunteer coordinator for medical first aid at the State Special Olympic Games in Ames for 14 years. I organized around the clock medical first aid staff for the 3 days that the games were held annually on the ISU campus. It took 50 volunteers, mostly nurses and paramedics, to fulfill this mission. It was essential to the welfare of these athletes and their coaches who moved into Ames for the athletic events. We even stayed overnight in the same dorms as the athletic teams to assure that any emergencies were handled.
My favorite memories were of delivering emergency care and first aid to specific athletes with pre-existing medical conditions. Many of them would come back to us to show off their medals after receiving medical care from us. It was very special to share in their joy and achievements. One of my personal memories was of being recognized as the Volunteer of the Year at the 2009 Iowa game. I also had the privilege of coordinating medical care for a whole week at the first ever National Special Olympics in Ames in 2006. 10,000 athletes, coaches and family members from all over America attended, and it required hundreds of medical volunteers around the clock for a week! I moved into ISU for a week to be available 24/7 that week! It was a tremendous challenge and great success! And the founders of the Special Olympics movement, the Kennedy-Shriver family, were here to attend! That was really cool to meet them."
2. How has the development of Special Olympics been a turning point for the intellectually disabled? How has Special Olympics impacted the lives of the intellectually disabled, their families and society?
"This movement has brought the attention, funding and awareness to intellectually disabled people in a way that no one could have predicted. It gives the athletes pride, involvement, and a feeling of worth. The games celebrate healthy living and community wellness for this underserved population. It has become an international movement now that encompasses thousands of intellectually disabled. The coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators are so enriched by their involvement with Special Olympics that thousands return year after year to experience the spirit of these Games."