Monday, March 1, 2010

Olympic Games -- 2010

On one hand the Olympic games are over, but truly, they are not over. Another set of athletes will start competing shortly.

How many of us are aware that the Paralympics begin on March 12th? Olympic style games for athletes with a disability were organized for the first time in Rome in 1960, now called Paralympics. In Toronto in 1976, other disability groups were added and the idea of merging together different disability groups for international sport competitions was born. In the same year, the first Paralympic Winter Games took place in Sweden. Today, the Paralympics are elite sport events for athletes with a disability. They emphasize the participants' athletic achievements rather than their disability. The movement has grown dramatically since its first days. The number of athletes participating in the Summer Paralympic Games has increased from 400 athletes from 23 countries in Rome in 1960 to 3,951 athletes from 146 countries in Beijing in 2008. Keeping with the theme of recognizing the achievements of people with disabilities, below you will find a few nonprofit organizations in the New York area that serve a variety of adults and children with both physical and developmental disabilities.

Camp Paqauatuck -- a summer camp for children with special needs situated on beautiful grounds in Center Moriches, Long Island.

Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities -- ACLD is a leading not-for-profit agency on Long Island that proudly serves the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Best Buddies -- Long Island -- nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Eden II / The Genesis Programs -- Eden II / Genesis Programs has been a leader in the effective intervention and education of individuals on the autism spectrum for over 30 years.