The Power of Sport: A Whole New World of Possibilities for the Children with Special Needs

Recently I attended the The Power of Sports workshop in UiTM, Shah Alam held by Procter & Gamble Malaysia (P&G) and Special Olympics Malaysia (SOM). This workshop it gives me a better understanding that for people with intellectual disabilities, sports provides them with the chance they need to find success, joy and friendship and all their dreams are made possible.

Fakulti Sains Sukan Dan Rekreasi UiTM, Shah Alam

P&G and Special Olympics Malaysia empowers people with intellectual disabilities with sports. P&G through its CSR programme, Open Minds, has touched and improved the lives of more than 10,000 children in both urban and rural areas; who are intellectually challenged and who may suffer from autism, dyslexia, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, or other conditions that cause executive function issues, for example. Executive functioning disorder is more common than you might think.

Mr Nagoor Meera Abdullah

First session conducted by Mr Nagoor Meera Abdullah, a sports science educator with more than 15 years of experience in coaching athletes of various disabilities. Get to know the sciences behind getting special children into sports.

Mr Mohd Shukry Bin Hussain

Then, Mr Mohd Shukry Bin Hussain, a dedicated coach and special education teacher who has paved the way to success for many kids with intellectual disabilities through strong participation in Special Olympics, shared his heart-touching life experience.

Last session, we the instructor demo a few steps and activities that can help improve the balance and coordination of children with intellectual disabilities. Little did we know that given the opportunities, a special child can be transformed from disability to ability and from isolation to involvement.

Instructor, Mohd Shukry Bin Hussain, a dedicated coach and special education teacher of Special Olympics Malaysia; Zulhaimi Abdul Hamid, Communication Leader of P&G; Nagoor Nameera Abdullah, sports science educator of UiTM; Dr Rozita Abdul Latif, Deputy Dean of Faculty Sports Science and Recreation, UiTM, the special athletes and instructor.

Often being excluded from the mainstream society, Special Olympics holds dear to the heart of many special needs children to play and thrive. The ultimate goal of Special Olympics is to help people with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition, and by increasing the public's awareness of their capabilities and needs.

Find out more about Open Minds on www.openminds.my and Special Olymipcs on http://www.specialolympics.org