Special Olympics gives local boy confidence

By Jerrod Laber

Jonathan Simpson’s favorite time of the year is not the summer, when he does not have to go to school.  It is not the winter, with its numerous of holidays.  His favorite time of the year involves an annual May event – usually of no more than a day’s duration.

Simpson, 18, a student at Open Door School in Ironton, suffers from cerebral palsy and competing in the Special Olympics simply makes his year.

The Lawrence County Special Olympics is a series of sporting events that takes place three times a year at Fairland High School in Proctorville, Simpson’s hometown.  It serves as an opportunity for cognitively-delayed children and young adults to compete and take part in athletics.  The Special Olympics also serves as therapy for participants.

The LCSO is a non-profit organization based out of the home of Sharon Blankenship, the program’s coordinator.  It receives most of its funding from the United Way of the River Cities, $2,600 for 2009.

“We are strictly not-for-profit,” Blankenship said.  “Every penny that we receive goes back into the program.  And once you volunteer, you are basically stuck.  It becomes very hard to walk away.”

Special Olympics events include volleyball and basketball in November and January, and Simpson’s favorite, the track & field games in May.

“The Special Olympics is his favorite thing,” Joyce Swann, Simpson’s grandmother, said.  “He gets so excited.  He truly loves it.”

His love for it is fueled by the sense of self and equality he receives from participating.

“I get to be me,” he said.  “I feel equal, and I get to be me.”

Simpson has been actively involved since the third grade.  Among his favorite events are the 50-yard dash and the long jump. He won second place in those events this year.  He placed first in the softball.

“It’s very exciting to watch him compete.  Seeing the smile on his face, it’s just very special to me,” Swann said.

Blankenship, coordinator since 1972, said, “Watching them gives me a great deal of satisfaction.  It helps them develop a sense of self-assurance and confidence.  They really enjoy it."

The LCSO involves eight different school districts with different levels of competition based on age and grade levels of participants.  Winners compete on a regional level at the Area 7 games at University of Rio Grande, in Gallia County.  Area 7 consists of Adams, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton counties in Ohio.

Further success can mean a trip to the statewide games at the Ohio State University, in Columbus.

None of this matters much to Simpson though, his grandmother says.

“Whether he places or not, that smile is always the same size.”

He just loves to compete, because he is able to be himself.