Special Olympics Texas, Inc.

Our goal is to give people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

We change lives by providing sports training for more than 58,000 Texans with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) holds more than 300 competitions throughout the year for athletes of all ages—from ages two to 100. Our athletes have the opportunity to compete in 22 different sports across the state. These athletic events are the vehicle for involving the athletes in sports, socialization and health.

But Special Olympics is not just a game; we utilize sports as the vehicle to promote health, inspire confidence, and improve the quality of life for athletes. Individuals participating in Special Olympics programs perform better in school, have better relationships with family and friends, and are twice as likely to be employed than individuals with intellectual disabilities who do not participate in Special Olympics.

In addition to physical fitness, Special Olympics offers the Healthy Athletes screening program. Individuals
with intellectual disabilities are 40 percent more likely to develop preventable health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes and less likely to have access to quality healthcare on their own.

Bolstered by more than 40,200 volunteers and 4,000 coaches, we are primed to serve even more people with intellectual disabilities throughout the coming years. We depend on our volunteers and coaches to assist our 75 employees statewide in providing these programs.

We have made progress in gaining acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities in society, but still have much work to do. We want to create an inclusive society.