{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"111: How Does the Special Olympics Change Lives Outside of Sports?","description":"In its 50+ years, the Special Olympics has served as a beacon of inclusion for aspiring athletes with disabilities. This now-worldwide institution started in 1968 in Chicago and was the brainchild of Eunice Kennedy Shriver \u2014 President John Kennedy\u2019s sister. At that time, developmentally disabled children were often institutionalized and intentionally separated from their families. Eunice had seen how societal pressure ultimately affected how her sister, Rosemary, was treated because of her intellectual disability. She was inspired to look for constructive and enriching programming options for those with disabilities and found very few of them, so she set about to create one of her own, using participation in sports as its overarching theme. The program that Eunice envisioned has grown dramatically over the years, and there are now more than 5 million Special Olympic athletes worldwide, representing 200 countries. In addition, each state in the U.S. has its own chapter of the Special Olympics, with California being represented by two due to its size and population. But, while most of us associate the organization primarily with these athletic events, in reality, the Special Olympics does much more to improve the lives of people with disabilities \u2014 far beyond the realm of sports participation. In the newest episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe spoke with Tyler Krochmal, Senior Manager of PR and Communications for Special Olympics Northern California (SONC). Tyler is a pivotal part of the Special Olympics\u2019 media team \u2014 he\u2019s heading to Berlin for the International Special Olympics in June \u2014 so he\u2019s well versed on the organization\u2019s overall mission. He even participated as a volunteer coach for a number of years. And because Tyler oversees the Special Olympics\u2019 Athlete Leadership program, which allows athletes with disabilities to learn real-world skills that help them develop confidence and expand their opportunities in life, he\u2019s seen firsthand the impact that this organization can have \u2014 even when there\u2019s no sporting event involved. In this episode, we\u2019re going to discuss: The impressive growth that the Special Olympics has seen since its inception and how that growth reflects today\u2019s more enlightened and inclusionary approach toward people with disabilities. How participation in the Special Olympics is a watershed moment for athletes with disabilities. Many athletes\u2019 interest is kindled by watching their chosen sport on television and signing up to participate. Unlike other aspects of their lives, disabled athletes don\u2019t have to worry about the judgment of others. There are no particular ability levels required \u2014 only the desire to participate. The various ways Special Olympics is committed to supporting people with intellectual disabilities far beyond the athletic field to enhance their physical and emotional health. How the Special Olympics provides enriching participation opportunities for coaches and other volunteers as well as the athletes themselves. And more! Don\u2019t miss this very uplifting episode, as Kirsten and Tyler delve into some of the lesser-known ways that the Special Olympics enriches the lives of disabled adults. Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll: Learn about your unique situation and goals Answer questions about our services Determine if we're the right fit to work together  Visit https:\/\/absolutetrustcounsel.com\/scheduling\/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today. Follow and Review: We\u2019d love for you to follow us if you haven\u2019t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We\u2019d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select \u201cRatings and Reviews\u201d and \u201cWrite a Review\u201d then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications\u2014from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com. ","author_name":"Absolute Trust Talk","author_url":"https:\/\/absolutetrustcounsel.com\/podcast","html":"