Livingston Academy students participated in the “Shine On Games” Friday, an all-inclusive competition for students with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Special Education Teacher April Stover said the initiative began after discussions with coaches Jimmy Miller and Kaleb Qualls about creating more opportunities for students. Stover said the program focuses on inclusion for students who may not be able to play typical sports following standard rules.
“We really want these kids to have as much opportunity as possible, just to have a day of fun. So why don’t we all just get together across the county and do our own little version and you know, kind of do these games and just have fun, and celebrate everybody,” Stover said.
While the school and its staff does their best to accommodate special needs students, Stover said it can still be difficult for these children to participate fully. Livingston Academy CDC co-teacher Karla Crabtree said the event allows students from other schools in the county who are not in the self-contained programs to join the games aw well.
Crabtree said the games utilized peer buddies to assist students during activities like relay races. Stover said the events are not timed and allow students to receive the specific help they need to be successful in throwing, catching, or running.
“Equality means everybody gets the same accommodation and, you know, everything’s even, but even doesn’t always mean fair, and fair doesn’t always mean equal. So we have to give everybody the same, you know, the different steps they need in order to look over the fence,” Stover said.
Crabtree said the games serve as a major community event where students interact and get to know one another. Stover said the experience of serving and encouraging others through the program has a positive impact on the students and their “peer buddies.”
“It’s unmeasurable, because when we see them walk down the hall now, they’re interacting with their peer buddies or even just other classmates that they normally wouldn’t see throughout the day, and they’re cheering them on,” Crabtree said. “And we’ve even in years past, when we have went to outside Special Olympics events, our kids in this building have lined the sidewalks to send us off like we do for our basketball players or any other sport here in the building.”
Stover said the local community has been very supportive, with sponsors and individuals reaching out to offer funding and assistance for the classroom. Crabtree said the community support remains consistent throughout the entire year, while the event is a time to celebrate small wins that are significant for the students and their families.
“We have a young man that has moved into this area from a different state, and with all the different events and activities that we’ve done, it brought some tears to (his mom’s) eyes because she said that he would have never got these opportunities where he come from and they are just so blessed and thankful that this community embraces these kids so much,” Stover said.
Crabtree said the school held the games in the fall and plans to continue the event twice a year. Stover said the goal is to secure enough community support and funding to establish the games as an annual tradition.
Beyond that, Stover said the effects of the games are not just limited to the students themselves, but felt by faculty and volunteers involved as well.
“We do this to be a servant for others, to help others and really encourage them, but there’s no way you can participate in a program like this with who genuinely appreciate you and need your help and them not affect you and make you a better person,” Stover said.