He's challenging himself. Pushing through the whole session. Nothing is more heart melting than the look of self-satisfaction when Beckett completes a task. He is so proud of himself and we are so proud of Beckett. It has made a big impact on Beckett's life.

As a parent, we get to meet more parents who have challenges similar to ours. No one looks at you weird like, "what's wrong with your kid?" We all get it. And everyone is there to support each other. Thank you Special Olympics for making programs like this possible.

~Tricia Edwards, Parent, Glendale YA

My son has Down syndrome and as a result, there are fewer opportunities for him to participate in sports and other activities than there are for my daughter. So I reached out to Special Olympics of Southern California to see if there was anything for him in our area. Sure enough, they told me about Young Athletes and how that prepares them for future participation in Special Olympics. After a couple of years in YA, my son will go into Special Olympics track once he turns 8 years old in a couple of months.

I know the importance of providing enrichment programs for children. Without the Young Athletes program, I am not sure what else I would find for my son. It is an important stepping-stone into Special Olympics. I have told the parents of a few of my son’s classmates about YA, and now those children are in the program getting the same benefit as my son.

~Patricia Tiu, Parent, Glendale YA

Young Athletes has brought so much excitement to the classroom. The students and staff are always so excited to see and use the different equipment from the Young Athletes kits. The activity guide is a great tool for teachers!

~Jon Audett, Teacher, Los Angeles Unified School District