District 150 students with special needs competed in wheelchair races, running and shot-put events. It’s part of the second annual Special Olympics Spring Games for the district. Jill Speer is the Heartland Area director for Special Olympics. She says the students spend significant time training for the event:
“There’s at least eight weeks of training that goes into participating here today, so these athletes are prepared. They’ve been working with their coaches to get ready for their track meets, wheelchair races and throwing events. So they’re training throughout their school day to get ready for participating.”
Speer says the Special Olympics give students with disabilities alternative ways to compete. She says she hopes to expand the program to more District 150 schools next year. More than 50 students from four district schools participated in this year’s games.