Special Olympians

March 02--VALDOSTA -- Freedom Park was filled with 255 students, approximately 150 volunteers and 171 teachers Thursday for the Youth Spring Special Olympics Games.

The students between ages 8 and 21 competed in a variety of sports, including bowling, races and basketball throughout the day.

Marcie McSpadden, a special-education teacher at Moulton-Branch Elementary School, teaches a kindergarten through second grade life-skills class.

She described the games as having a "very fun and supportive atmosphere," but also as having a positive impact in the classroom.

"It gives the students a chance to work on skills we have worked on in the classroom in a less-structured environment," she said.

The event also allows students to interact with peers in other classes and schools, and make new friends in local volunteers, she said.

While McSpadden teaches kindergarten through second grade, she only has kindergarteners in her class this year.

Because of their age, her students don't really get excited about the games until the day of the event, she said. The classroom is set up differently. There are boxes in the room, and the kids are eventually loaded onto a bus.

When the children see it is going to be a different kind of day, they get excited, she said.

For older students, she said the excitement is present every day leading up to the event.

"We have some older students that we tell in advance, and they bring it up every day until the event," she said.

Tammy Crosby, therapeutic supervisor for the Valdosta Lowndes Parks and Recreation Authority, has manned the helm of the games for the last 12 years.

"An event like this gives an opportunity to kids with intellectual disabilities a chance to compete in olympic-type sports and activities," she said.

The games act as a way to create one-on-one mentorships with the students that lead into adulthood and to help prepare the students for state-level competitions.

"We see children as young as 8 years old compete, then, eventually, compete in a state event at 22," she said.

Along with state games, the students have the opportunity to get involved with young adult clubs through the parks and recreation authority.

And while Crosby puts the events together, her favorite part of the process is the award ceremony.

"I love seeing their faces when they get to stand up on that podium and receive that ribbon," she said. "Because, it's not about me, it's about them."

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.

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