Parkinson's UK’s Post

Did you know that Special Olympics International (SOI) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)? Both are non-profit global sports organizations focusing on athletes with disabilities. What Makes Us Different? THE ATHLETES Special Olympics athletes have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Athletes of all ability levels have the opportunity to train and compete in over 30 Olympic-type sports. Through the power of sports, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities discover new strengths and abilities, skills, and success. GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT Special Olympics is the largest grassroots sports organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the world: reaching over 4 million athletes and Unified Sports® partners, one million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year over 200 countries. WORLD GAMES Special Olympics World Games are held independently from the International Olympic Committee – IOC & the International Paralympic Committee Alternating every two years between summer and winter, Special Olympics World Games are the flagship events and have grown to be an international demonstration of inclusion, acceptance, and unity. All around the world our athletes train and strive to achieve their very best every day. The next Special Olympics World Winter Games will take place in Turin, Italy in 2025 – JOIN US. #Turin2025 #SpecialOlympics #ChooseToInclude

This is inspiring on multiple levels. 1). Say yes, ask for help and then get a plan - focus to achieve it! 2) Don’t write yourself off, you can achieve more than you can possibly imagine. It’s all about conquering your mind set. 3) Have a pull and a push (or maybe a gentle nudge 😉) to help you. Your why to do things will get you through tough times. What are you going to say yes to for April? What help do you need?

Special Olympics is not the ParaOlympics. I've been hearing a lot of 'You must be busy!' and 'Why aren't you in Paris?' (my thoughts exactly), though as the 2024 ParaOlympics wind down, I thought I'd make some distinctions between these games and the Special Olympics. Firstly, it's a common misconception that the two are the same. So common in fact, that it's the most popular blog post on the SO Australian site. Here are the facts: Special Olympics and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are two separate organisations recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Both are international non-profit organisations focusing on sport for athletes with disabilities. Special Olympics and the Paralympics differ in three main areas: 1) the disability categories of the athletes they serve, 2) the criteria and philosophy under which athletes participate, and 3) the structure of the organisations. The Special Olympics global mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and Autism, giving them 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. Special Olympics offers many non-sports opportunities for people with an intellectual disability like leadership, lifestyle and healthy living programs. These programs help athletes develop the confidence and skills to be active and respected members of the community. Because Special Olympics Australia (and globally) struggle with building this awareness, we need your help in breaking down inclusivity barriers. If your organisation or company would like to partner with us and advocate for persons with ID and Autism, let's chat. In the leadup to our National Games and 50 year anniversary, it's an exciting time to be a part of SOA. https://lnkd.in/gGHi-8F3

Inclusion & representation is so important 👏

This sounds like it's out the "Safety Third" approach to life. #1 have fun, #2 take a photo, #3 safety. On a serious note though, what a great way to bring to life sports and accessibility. We don't win and lose, we win and learn. Feeling the sharp end of sport is part and parcel of sport. These experiences help build confidence and wisdom. Well done Channel 4

This is a great post!! You can learn about the relationship Policing has with Disability Sport at our annual conference. Check out out the speakers and details on how to be there in person or online on Disabled Police Association website #DIP24

How can people working in the physical activity sector act on ParalympicsGB and C4's campaign? A first step is following #GetOutGetActive's Talk to Me Principles: ten steps developed with disabled people to make activities more appealing to disabled and non-disabled people alike. Watch a short introduction to them principles here: https://lnkd.in/eX98c5xK

Imagine, for a moment, a world where Simone Biles story took a different turn. What if, after her decision to step back in Tokyo, Team USA and the gymnastics community had closed the door on her return? What if they had looked at her hiatus as a sign of weakness rather than strength, and decided she was no longer worth the risk? In that world, we wouldn’t have witnessed one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. We wouldn’t have seen Simone soar higher than ever, reclaiming her place at the pinnacle of gymnastics with a renewed spirit and unmatched determination. The world would have been deprived of a moment that transcended sport—a moment that spoke to the power of resilience, the importance of mental health, and the value of giving people a second chance. But what’s even more unsettling is the thought of how many “Simones” we might be overlooking every day. How many talented individuals, after taking a necessary pause in their careers, are met with closed doors instead of open arms? How many of them could be the next game-changers, the next innovators, the next leaders—if only they were given the opportunity? Simone’s story is a powerful reminder that a hiatus isn’t the end; it’s often the beginning of something even greater. At WBW | Women Back to Work Back to Work, our mission is clear and urgent: getting women back into the workforce where they belong. We've seen the power of what happens when someone is given a second chance—just look at Simone Biles. Her triumphant return to gymnastics after a hiatus wasn’t just a personal victory; it was a statement to the world about resilience, potential, and the importance of opportunity. But here's the thing: stories like #Simone’s don’t just happen by chance. They happen because someone, somewhere, believed in giving her that opportunity. That’s where allyship comes in. It’s not enough to simply acknowledge the challenges that women face when returning to work. Now is the time to turn that recognition into action. #Allyship means advocating for #returners when no one else will. It means challenging the status quo, opening doors that have long been shut, and providing the support and resources women need to succeed. It’s about more than just filling roles; it’s about restoring confidence, reigniting passion, and recognizing the immense value that returners bring to the table. So, we’re calling on you to take your allyship to the next level. Whether you’re in a position to hire, mentor, or simply advocate, now is the time to step up. Together, we can create more comeback stories like Simone’s—stories of women who not only return to the workforce but rise to even greater heights. The future is full of potential returners, and with your support, their best is yet to come. Let’s make it happen. #ReturnToRise #AllyForReturners #UnlockHerPotential #WomenOnTheRise #SupportHerComeback #ChampionReturners #BreaksToBreakthroughs #BackToThrive #RiseAgainStrong #EmpowerHerReturn

London 2012 put paralympic achievement in the spotlight; Birmingham 2022 put it centre stage; Paris 2024 showed again how spectacular it is. Nevertheless, Alex Mahon provides a reminder here of how much still needs to be done to achieve inclusive sport and sporting opportunities. The effort already has sporting heroes like gold medalists Grace Harvey and Ellie Simmonds (to name just two) and non-competing champions like Janet Warrington and Nicola Turner MBE, but will need everyone onboard to create opportunities for participation by the million or more youngsters currently missing out. What can you do to become a local hero and promote sporting opportunities for disabled people in your area?

👏 Take the breaks, step down when you need to, careers are not linear. There is no perfect path. You can have gaps in your resume, you can move from director down to manager and back up to director again. And if you think I’m full of it, I’ve taken years off, and stepped down and climbed back up. I speak from my own experience. The proverbial corporate ladder doesn’t work for almost anyone . Life isn’t a straight and narrow path! Prioritize what you need and things will always fall into place.