Daniel Smrokowski Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger Blog #4: Back to School Reflection

By Daniel Smrokowski, Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger and Special Olympics Illinois athlete

My time in high school, beginning in 2004, is when I was first introduced to Special Olympics. It’s thanks to one of my Special Education case managers who told me about Special Olympics. Through my years in high school, I started competing in swimming and then basketball a few years later.

One of the classes I took was a Vocation Education class. In this job skills training class, we had learned many jobs throughout the school — from jobs in the kitchen to the front office of the school. Another part of this class that I recall is running a student store with supplies. In this part of the class, I had an opportunity to write a commercial for the student store. You can hear more about my experience in this vocational education class from one of my high school teachers on The Special Chronicles Show at specialchronicles.com/Podcast117.

Thankfully my teachers in high school, supported me to be included in regular education classes. With the right support and to be included, I gained confidence to advocate for myself. With this support, my high school teachers helped me in transitioning to college. They supported me in giving me the tools to advocate for myself in college. With the support of my case managers and teachers in high school, I was accepted and included in our school community.

After high school, I attended Roosevelt University in Chicago, and with support from the Academic Success Center’s disability services office, I was able to graduate in 2012 with a B.A. in journalism. During my first year of college in late 2008, I became an Athlete Leader in Special Olympics Illinois and founded Special Chronicles. It is at Special Chronicles, where I started podcasting to share the stories of those of us with disabilities on www.specialchronicles.com.

Today, many schools are becoming inclusive of those of us with disabilities. When schools get involved as a Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools, the school climates are changing to be more inclusive. When students play on a Unified Sports team or get involved in Unified Champion Schools you can break down barriers and creating understanding for our differences. You can hear more about Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program on The Special Chronicles Show, Episode 269 at: specialchronicles.com/UnifiedSchools. When schools include those of us with disabilities, we can create a world where we have full inclusion in our society. Join me and Choose To Include those of us with disabilities this upcoming school year.