Blog 16: 2- Hour House Meeting

1. What is the most significant way that Special Olympics can help a person with an intellectual disability gain social competence?

 

2. Me second answer to my essential is question is every single person who is involved with Special Olympics helps athletes become more social competent. These people include Regional Directors, Area Directors, coaches, volunteers, community workers, parents, and care givers from group homes.

 

3. Some examples of people who are involved with Special Olympics helps athletes gain social competence are:

When an athletes is at bowling practice and needs to get bowling shoes they need to communicate with the person behind the counter to get the correct size shoe. Sometimes the athletes speech maybe hard to understand and some athletes are non verbal coach practice with the athletes like holding up what size shoe they are. With more and more practice they are memorizing what shoe size they are and the person behind the desk gets familiar with athletes and build relationships.

 

Regional Directors, Area Directors, coaches, volunteers, community workers, parents, and care givers from group homes all help athletes with self help. For example they set boundaries, rules, repetition and guidance to do things on their own.

 

Special Olympics is empowering athletes with intellectual disabilities to be leaders in society by providing them opportunities to learn skills that transcend the playing field. Our athletes hold jobs, go to school, and are active members in their communities.

 

4. This source helped me the most to find my answer:                                                                                                                        "Special Olympics' Special Olympics Delaware. Web. 01 Nov. 2012. http://www.sode.org/

This helped me the mot because it gave a good idea on coaches and other people who are involved with Special Olympics help athletes in a big way.

 

5. I plan to continue my study of my 2 answer by completing my independent component 2. Also talking to coaches from other regions and volunteering.

 

 

 

 

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

1. I plan on completing 30 hours of work with Pomona Valley Special Olympics. Sign ups for spring start on February 9th. I plan to help with registration. I will also participate in the orientation that will take place on this day. Things that will be discussed will be the athletes code of conduct,healthy eating, selections of sports, how attendance and participation will used in selecting athletes to attend. I will also help lead practices and attend tournaments. When Summer Games comes I will also help the head coach on which athletes will get to go and participate.

2. I think my independent component 2 will reach 30 hours of work because practices are every Saturday for 3 hours. During the week also there are sometimes Special Olympics meeting for coaches and volunteers to attend to discuss how things are going and what needs improvement. There are also tournaments that we go to which last for about 6-8 hours.

3. This independent component will help me answer my essential question because I am receiving hands on work experience with athletes, coaches, volunteers, and partners that are involved with Special Olympics. Through my recent research I think I have an idea for my answer two, which is everyone who is involved with Special Olympics helps the athletes become more socially competent.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

Literal
a) I, Logan Ramirez affirm that I completed my independent component which reprsents 30 hours of work.
b) Greg Oberon (909) 957-9574
c) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArZeKIJ-DYRTdE56S1VKdlp5WHQzVDFrMXpMN1lSbHc#gid=0
d) As a coach I helped run practices. I assisted the athletes when needed. For example: going to the restroom, helping them gather their belongings (putting on shoes, helping with jackets, their bags), helping athletes that needed to use a bowling ramp, and cleaned up after practices.

Interpretive

I completed 30 hours of work. Bowling practices consisted of taking roll to see who was at practice. Setting up the bowling ramps and taking them out of storage. Gathering athletes to their lanes. Assisting athletes when needed. It could be from going to the restroom, helping them receive their bowling shoes and putting them on. When the athletes stated their bowling game I would walk around and see who needed assistance. After practices were over I would wait with some of athletes who live in group homes and wait or their care takers. After I would help clean up the bowling alley. I also helped plan some Special Olympic parties. I helped plan the Halloween party and the Christmas party.


Applied
By completing the 30 hours of work I have a understanding of my foundation. Being a part of Special Olympics has shown me that people with intellectual disabilities need assistance and practice. I have learned that the sometimes the simplest things for us is very hard for some of the athletes. We take a lot of things for granted. For example: for an athlete to be able to communicate to front desk on what shoe size they are can be a huge struggle. Some athletes are non-verbal, some do not know what shoe size they are, and some have never been told or practiced what their shoe size is.  Another example is: money. Many athletes come to practices with change to buy a soda. Many of them will ask me and the other coaches how many quarters do I need to buy a drink. We have to help them figure out how many quarters they need. But by the end of the season they have memorized how many quarters they need. The athletes at Pomona Valley Special Olympics are just like us, but need a little extra assistance and practice. I am so happy to part of Special Olympics and make a difference in their lives.

Special Olympics Meeting. Senior Update 2

 On January 23, there was a Special Olympics meeting. Here is the agenda on what was discussed.

Blog 13: Rough Draft 30 minute Presentation

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7ZeKIJ-DYRTVlAzYnRraExHeFk/edit

Third Interview Questions

EQ: What is the most significant way that Special Olympics can help a person with intellectual disability gain social competence?

1. What is one of the top skills you work on with an athletes to help them build social competence?

2. What gets people to choose Special Olympics over other organizations?

3. Can you tell me about an athlete and a positive change you have seen?

4. Does Special Olympics target personal hygiene?

5. What types of social skills is required for Special Olympics?

6. How much assistance is given to new athletes vs a seasoned athlete?

7. Can you tell me some of the skills the athletes gain while participating while at Special Olympics?

8. What are the rules when assisting or allowing someone to use the restroom at practice and at a tournament?

9. How are food and snacks addressed to the athletes?

10.How does Pomona Valley Special Olympics measure social competence?

Service Learning Hours

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArZeKIJ-DYRTdE56S1VKdlp5WHQzVDFrMXpMN1lSbHc#gid=0