Now that the president has reversed the decision to cut $17.6 million from Special Olympics, the Massachusetts organization and its local chapters can breathe easier.
The federal government funds the organization’s Unified Champion School program across the nation. Massachusetts received $125,000 each year — and some of that goes to Greenfield High School, the only school of that kind in Franklin County.
Charles Hirsch, director of development for brand and marketing for the Massachusetts chapter, said the state organization wasn’t that concerned, even when the cut was proposed, because the state delegation is strong in its support of Special Olympics each year it, increasing its funding each year.
“They work hard for us,” Hirsch said.
He said the state organization receives $125,000 and distributes the money to local chapters to support its Unified Champion School program.
He said he did not know at press time how much Greenfield receives but said 376 schools across the state, including 53 schools in the Pioneer Valley, share the $125,000, which along with other funding totals $566,215 per year for the program.
Hirsch said no cuts to Special Olympics sports programs, with which people are most familiar, were proposed, so that was never in danger. About 955 Special Olympics athletes throughout the Pioneer Valley play and compete in everything from basketball and soccer to bocce ball and swimming throughout the year. There used to be a local chapter in Chicopee, but Hirsch said all Massachusetts offices were consolidated into one in Marlborough.
After Education Secretary Betsy DeVos proposed the $17.6 million cut early this past week, saying the organization could seek more philanthropic donations to make up for it, attacks came at her from all directions. President Donald Trump reversed that decision by the end of the week.
“Special Olympics is a nonpartisan organization that strongly supports policies, legislation and practices that guarantee the rights, full participation, and integration of people with intellectual disabilities,” was part of the statement the national organization released after her announcement. “Special Olympics recognizes the progress that has been made around the country in eliminating the stigma, stereotypes, isolation and discrimination that people with intellectual disabilities face — most importantly around access to sport, health and education opportunities and services. We ask federal, state and local governments to join Special Olympics in remaining vigilant against any erosion of provisions that have made a substantial difference in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.”
Hirsch said each year Special Olympics engages in opportunities such as its annual Capitol Hill Day to educate lawmakers about why grant funding for its health and education programming is critical. It did so again this year, and he said he believes legislators continue to be committed the organization and its work.
“The money a Unified Champion School receives is used to provide support that the school needs to run the program,” said Hirsch. “A Unified Champion School is an education tool for social and emotional learning of kids with and without disabilities.”
He said there are three components to a Unified Champion School.
“There’s the unified sports component,” he said. “Teens with and without intellectual disabilities play on the same teams. It’s a great place to make relationships, learns social skills and create bonds.”
Hirsch said all of that permeates into the classroom, which is good for everyone involved.
The second is youth leadership — members who become part of a team build all sorts of skills.
The third is getting “everyone” involved, he said.
“A Unified Champion School is inclusive, and not just in a passive way, but by campaigning and spreading the word about all sorts of issues faced by people with disabilities,” Hirsch said. “For instance, each school participates in a campaign to end the “R” word.”
The cuts DeVos recently proposed to Special Olympics were not the first. She has proposed cuts to the organization in all of her budgets since she was confirmed at the beginning of 2017, and each time, they were rejected — even when Republicans controlled the House and Senate.
Hirsch said the work Special Olympics does goes beyond sports. He said it helps reduce bullying and teasing in schools and helps those with intellectual disabilities build confidence.
“It helps those without intellectual disabilities, as well,” he said. “It teaches everyone that throughout life you’ll have to work with or communicate with people who are different from you. Our schools are a big help with that, so we don’t want to see the funding go away.”
While Special Olympics is not a federal program — it receives most of its funding from private donations — it does receive money to bring programs into public schools across the nation. In 1962, the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Camp Shriver on her Maryland farm. In 1968, it evolved into the worldwide Special Olympics.