Changing SOMD

          Special Olympics has always been a constant for Robb. Even with the uncertainty of Robb's future, my family always believed Special Olympics would always be there for us. However, ever since my family received the following email, we began to question our faith in the company:

          I offer my highest regards to the leaders of the webinar I attended: they genuinely seemed to want to hear all of the many possible ideas for how to deal with space issues. However, at the end, even after we had listen many feasible ideas to deal with the space issue, the leaders still said that an advancement/allotment system was inevitable. I asked to see if they would keep all events with this system, like the assisted and unassisted swim, but I already knew the answer. Any events in which Robb can compete would be dissolved making it virtually impossible for Robb to ever compete in the Olympics Games.
          Keep in mind that in Special Olympics' mission statement, it says that the goal of Special Olympics is to have "competition opportunities for all levels of ability." An advancement/allotment system falsifies this claim which is the core value that makes Special Olympics so amazing. Before, Robb could race competitively at his level of swimming. But with this new system, my brother again gets placed against expectations that diminish the value of all of his growth and skill development over the season. His goals may be different from those of his teammates, but this does not mean that they should not be recognized especially by the organization whose purpose is to give people with all levels of ability equal opportunity.
           Their reasoning for the necessity of the new system was that almost all the other states had done it, and that might have been the most painful part. There had already been many people before my brother in the same situation whose voice has been silenced.
         I am not going to let my brother get oppressed in a community that is designed to give him opportunities that everyone else has. We will find out the decisions of the Special Olympics committee with regards to their advancement/allotments plans in November, but until then, spread the word. To truly be an event for people with "all levels of ability," the Special Olympics needs to include everyone in the diverse spectrum of intellectual disabilities.

A Moment

I cannot emphasize enough the unconditional love I have for Robb. It is as if he lets off light, and whenever in his presence, I cannot help but shine with him. For example, this weekend I was watching a movie with my brothers, and Robb decided that there needed to be some action. So he began to shake a painting on the wall until we would make a scene to stop him. When we tried ignoring the activity, he would go over and put some pizza in his mouth. Now Robb knows he cannot eat pizza, and he rarely ever actually eats it. However, he also knows that if he sticks it in his mouth, we will come over to be sure he does not eat the food.

When tired and trying to relax, it is easy to get irritated with the constant interruptions, but I cannot help but laugh when I see Robb's smile every time I give in to fix the painting or take the pizza from him. He tries to hold back a chuckle as he innocently walks over to sit down in a chair. He then clasps his hands together and smiles at me as if he had been sitting there all along. However, when we continue with the movie, he again gets back up and continues to divert attention. Any time we try to hide the pizza or move the painting, he takes it as a new challenge, and (as by this time I have already forgotten the movie we are watching), I spend the rest of the evening watching Robb's eyes darting around looking for his next point of attack.

I do not understand why this moment came to mind when I was reflecting on the love I have for my brother. However, I do not think I need to understand. There are so many things about my brother that I do not understand, but why focus on those things when I have such an amazing person in my life. So instead of overanalyzing, I am going to let this moment remain another memory that compiles my brother's story and my love for him.