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Federal funding supports Special Olympics schools program

Free Press - 3/31/2019

March 30-- Mar. 30--MANKATO -- Advocates for people with disabilities are relieved federal funding for a Special Olympics program in schools won't go away as threatened earlier this week.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos defended the proposed $17.6 million cuts in her budget this week, saying philanthropic donations could make up the difference. President Donald Trump then reversed the decision in remarks ahead of his rally in Michigan Thursday.

The federal funding would've represented about 2 percent of Special Olympics Minnesota's budget, said Katie Howlett, marketing and communications specialist. It specifically contributes to Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools, a program promoting athletic and leadership opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities.

Existing schools in the program, like St. Clair, wouldn't have been affected by the cut. Howlett said losing the funding would've instead prevented the program from expanding into more schools.

"We don't want to make light of these proposed cuts, because they will hinder growth in Minnesota," she said in an interview before Trump's reversal.

The cuts wouldn't have impacted funding for Special Olympics' sports initiatives, coordinated by Leisure Education for Exceptional People in Mankato, either. But LEEP Executive Director Lisa Hoffman Wojcik said local athletes expressed worries about the potential cuts this week. She said it a relief for everyone when the decision was reversed.

"It's a sense of relief even if there's not a direct impact," she said. "I think it really speaks to the value of Special Olympics."

Apart from St. Clair, no other high schools in the Mankato area are in the Unified schools program, although the funding could help change that. Gustavus College is also considered a Unified Champion School partner, providing facilities for events.

Mike Gottberg, technology coordinator for St. Clair Schools and a longtime Special Olympics volunteer, teams up with the school's guidance counselor in overseeing the program. From education surrounding the "R" word's harmful impact to encouraging students to seek Special Olympics service opportunities, he said the program fosters an inclusive school environment.

"I can tell you right now that once the program gets a foothold, the kids keep it going because it does become something that's close and dear to their hearts," he said.

Sophomores, juniors and National Honor Society students take part in the projects, including the latter organizing a volleyball tournament each May. In the process, the student volunteers work alongside locals with intellectual or physical disabilities.

Gottberg said the experience highlights the challenges those folks experience in society, while at the same time showing how they overcome them in their daily lives.

"By doing that we educate our kids to be better citizens," he said.

A volunteer with Special Olympics for about 37 years, he said it saddened him to see the funding in jeopardy in the first place. With it seemingly now secured, he said he hopes the ordeal spurs more people to support Special Olympics either through donating money or time.

"Sometimes saying I'm here for you can make all the difference for someone," he said. "Those are the kind of things I talk to young people about."

Follow Brian Arola @BrianArolaMFP.

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(c)2019 The Free Press (Mankato, Minn.)

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