Iom Lorbache poses proudly with his son Sorin, 15, at the 12th Special Olympics Romania National Games, 11-12 October 2002.
Family Leadership & Support is funded through the generous contributions of Kim Samuel Johnson and the Samuel Family Foundation. |
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Family Support Network
Families with members who have intellectual disabilities are like other families; however, having a family member with special needs can sometimes introduce new and different challenges for families in their everyday lives.
Special Olympics offers families the opportunity to be a part of a year-round sports training and competition program which not only provides the entire family with opportunities for sports, social interaction and fun, but also serves as a much-needed support system.
The Family Support Network provides a programmatic structure in which Special Olympics families reach out to new families to welcome them into the Special Olympics community. Family Support Network objectives — to support families, to develop partnerships with community organizations, to train new Family Leaders — all contribute to Special Olympics’ primary goal of increasing the number of athletes participating in the movement worldwide. < Read about how Special Olympics Myanmar (Burma) in Southeast Asia, eager to grow, has developed a key Family Support Network >
The Family Support Network is based on the premise that the family members of present and future Special Olympics athletes are valuable and have an important role to play in Special Olympics outreach. The Family Support Network connects Special Olympics families with new families of an individual with intellectual disabilities and provides supportive links and information.
The Family Support Network creates opportunities for family members to:
- Become advocates for the Special Olympics movement;
- Match families to share ideas, issues and common interests;
- Volunteer in their loved one’s athletic training; and
- Encourage new families who can benefit from Special Olympics to join.
For more information on resources for family members and how your family can get involved, contact your local Special Olympics Program. To find a Program near you, use our Program Locator.
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