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Special Olympics Unified Program
offers
everyone a chance to shine
By Ruth Weiner
Citizen Staff
Lilly
Kontrakul forgets to dribble the ball while traveling down
court, but no whistle is blown. She stops in the lane, sets up
her shot, and sinks it.
 |
| Coach Jeff
Erickson leads the group through warm-up exercises. |
Karen Cocchi
careens through the maze of two dozen animated players,
undaunted and determined to make the lay-up, which she does, to
everyone’s delight.
High-fives
abound on Thursday afternoons from 4 to 5 at the Kennedy School
when student athletes with a wide range of ages and abilities
team up for a spirited game of basketball.
“It’s a
tremendous opportunity for kids to play sports in a
non-threatening way. We adjust to every level of capability,”
said Walter Silvia, who started the Special Olympics Unified
Program five years ago, matching special needs children with
student volunteers, all of whom train and compete together.
Free and open
to every student, the program partners Canton Public Schools,
Canton parents and the Canton Recreation Department with Special
Olympics Massachusetts to provide year-round athletic training
and competition. Soccer is offered in the fall, basketball in
the winter, and track and field in the spring.
Silvia
circulates throughout the gym prior to practice. He chats with
parents, catches up with volunteers and interacts with student
athletes.
“We have kids
who started in [2004] and I’ve watched them grow and develop,”
said Silvia, who credits coach Jeff Erickson with the ongoing
success of the program. “At first some of them didn’t want to
participate at all. Now it’s a part of their lives. [Erickson]
makes sure everyone plays. He talks to the parents and listens
to their concerns.”
Angela
Mouradian, mother of Ben, 13, agreed: “Jeff is wonderful. He’s a
natural with kids and they can count on him. He’s made a real
connection.”
Erickson
motivates and encourages throughout the fast-moving hour. He
gathers the group together for stretches, then supervises a game
of duck-duck goose, which focuses everyone in on the action.
After
practicing their dribbling, passing and shooting, the group is
divided into two teams, and the games begin.
“I love it and
I need it,” said Cocchi, with an infectious smile and an aura of
self-esteem that is triple the size of her four-foot frame.
Lita Ristuccia
enjoys the social interaction available to her daughter Lily,
12: “There’s a whole group of kids who get together. It makes
her feel great that she’s doing this.”
Key for
Marianne Arcieri, who runs a special needs program in Canton
called Little Flowers and Friends, is how sibling Angie can join
in the fun with younger sister Michaela.
“This is the
first sport that they’ve done together,” Archieri said.
Tara DeSisto,
9, and older sister Nicole, 12, share practice time as well.
“It is great
to play basketball with my sister and all the other kids,”
Nicole said. “I especially enjoy helping Lily, who is such a
nice person and tries her best all the time.”
Their mom,
Cindy, relaxes with the other mothers on the sidelines, many of
whom she has known through other special needs activities. She
praises the volunteers for their patience and compassion.
“This program
is local, convenient, and most of all, fun.”
Erickson noted
that the program would not be a success without the contribution
of the volunteer student athletes who provide assistant coaching
and one-on-one support.
As the kids
run from one side to the other — helping, encouraging, sharing,
giving, taking, yielding, throwing and cheering — everyone
experiences the open joy of success.
For more
information, call Walter Silvia at 781-828-1466 or email him at
wrsylvia@aol.com.
March 26, 2009
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