By Sarah Raaii
Staff Writer for "The Tribune"
published in Ames, IA

One of the lesser-known events included in the Special Olympics USA National Games is the Motor Activities Training. The program is designed for individuals with severe and profound disabilities who would otherwise be unable to train in Special Olympics.

"We try to take the sports all (the athletes') peers play and be very creative so that they aren't just sitting on the sidelines watching," said Kathy Irving, director of special programs for Special Olympics Iowa and commissioner of the program.

Through a partnership with Opportunity Living, a facility for individuals with severe disabilities in Lake City , program staff obtain equipment required to meet the needs of the athletes.

Dennis Mason, head of maintenance and adaptive equipment at Opportunity Living, helps construct the equipment.

"We take a game, and if they want to play it, we give it to Dennis, and he makes it happen without any blueprints," said Stephanie Corey-Patterson, director of recreation at Opportunity Living. "There's not a game we can't figure out."

The program's array of accessible sports features everything from launchers for archery, pool, shuffleboard, soccer, tennis and golf to a shooting and passing device for wheelchair basketball.

According to Mason, the ingenuity and work that goes into constructing the equipment pays off in the end.

"It's all worth it to see the smiles when you give the athletes the opportunity to do something they couldn't do before," he said.

"They've never been able to be on a team before," Irving said. "There's just so much team spirit here, and they love to be Michael Jordan for a day."

Irving said the sensory stimulation the athletes experience is beneficial.

"The sounds, the bright colors, the air rushing past them, everyone can get something out of it," she said. "We give them the opportunity, and we assume they are benefiting from it. We talk to them and behave toward them like we would to any other person. We don't assume they aren't able to understand."

In the program, athletes are paired with partners, usually parents or facility staff members, who work with and know the athletes.

"(Partners) know the athletes so well that they get their personalities out and help them have fun," Irving said.

The Motor Activities Training Program started as Iowa Special Olympics Challenge Day, during which athletes with severe and profound disabilities came together to compete in sports to improve their movement skills.

Challenge Day is held in several Iowa locations to bring the competition to athletes who cannot leave their living facilities.

"Family members have been hungry for something like this," Irving said. "Iowa is really proud of the way it has expanded the program into team sports using switch-activated equipment. It has opened many doors. The family can come here and say, 'People are looking at my child as a person.'"

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