By Okon Ekpenyong and Danlette Washington

A video posted on the Special Olympics Facebook page, a Special Olympics Deutschland Swimmer, Nicole Pietschmann’s family’s reaction after she won one of the swimming races at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin in 2023, has gone viral.

There is no denying that sports can sometimes bring something out of us that is difficult to explain. It hits all the right spots, leaving us prone to various emotional reactions.

In Ohio, there was no doubt that the 2023 Ohio Special Olympic Summer Games at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium also had its unforgettable moments witnessed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Director of Developmental Disabilities Kim Hauck, athletes, coaches, volunteers, and families.

George Johnson Jr., a retired sergeant major in the US Army, and his wife Florence, who has a son with developmental disabilities, were among the families who celebrated their loved one’s big day.

“Being in Ohio and seeing how many resources available and how bipartisan elected officials are when establishing policies that benefit individuals with developmental disabilities has been both eye-opening and rewarding,” said the Johnson family.

Their son, George Johnson III, competed in Track and Field, precisely the 100 meter and 200 meters, his first Ohio Special Olympics, during the June 23-25 State Summer Games.

“Over the three days competition, nearly 22,000 children and athletes participated in the 2023 Summer Special Olympics Ohio in 18 sports. By promoting acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics Ohio aims to create a better world,” according to Governor DeWine’s Office.

Athletes competed in track and field, bocce, bowling, gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. The summer events attract the most spectators and athletes, but there are also games in the winter and fall.

In an interview with New Americans Magazine, the Johnsons family discussed their son’s first Special Olympics Ohio event. In what way does Ohio advocate for people with developmental disabilities? Florence, a Kenyan-American, also spoke about some of the stigmas associated with having a child with special needs in some countries.

George and Florence

The governor’s office, the Ohio legislature, and the counties and local policymakers and decision-makers have the best interest culturally in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.

Priority

In Ohio, there is a high level of advocacy for people with disabilities, but this varies from state to state. Some states do not place a high priority on this issue. However, Ohio is one of the states where the policymakers and the people in the community care about seeing people with developmental disabilities live or learn and participate in the community.

Tennessee

Since Tennessee did not provide sufficient funding and other resources to assist people with disabilities, they had little infrastructure for those services. However, Franklin County board service coordinators point families to where they could enroll in Medicaid and waiver programs.

Lack of Social Services

We lived in a country with a population of 140,000, but there was only one occupational therapist for the entire school district. The therapist only saw our son every three to four months. One of the reasons for the absence of more specialists during school hours was the lack of staffing, according to the therapist.

Franklin County School System

However, in his current school, he has a speech and behavioral specialist within his school building, which is very important to us.

Immigrant/refugees students

“For us immigrants being able to tap into what the infrastructure is already in here and seeking that early intervention, that’s very critical. So, talking to a specialist and taking advantage of the many resources out there sooner or later is vital”, said Florence.

In conclusion, a timely diagnosis reduces the stigma and misconceptions associated with developmental disabilities. And so win or lose; the Johnson Family believes their son was out there making memories, making friends, finding strength, and overcoming adversity.

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