History of Disability in South Australia

I have an intellectual disability, and I am involved with an organisation called Special Olympics. I was a swimmer and now I am a swimming coach. I represented the State twice at National Level in 1990 and 1992. I was a team manager for the 2002 National games in Sydney and a team motivator for the 2006 National games on the Gold Coast. After I gained my Level 3 coaching accreditation I started the first Special Olympics Swim Squad at A.A.C. in 1990 after the National Games, were I am the caretaker Coach. I started up a second squad at Marion. They train at the Marion Pool and are called the Seals. I am the Head Coach.

I won the Wendy Ey Scholarship for Women in 2005 and with that I am doing my Level 2 Coaching Accreditation. I am the first person to be doing Level 2 with an Intellectual Disability.

I am on the sports committee and the Coaching Coordinator for Special Olympics S.A. I and a friend, along with Special Olympics S.A. and DECS held our first swimming carnival on the south side of the city for students with Disabilities. Just recently we had our second carnival on the north side of the city for students with Disabilities. We had 20 schools, and 159 students, some for the 1st time in a carnival.

I have just recently won a Sport and Recreation Coaching Scholarship for 2007/2008 and with that I will be able to finish my Level 2 Coaching Accreditation.

I am glad that I have been part of the Special Olympics Australia and S.A. The Organization has given me confidence in what I have achieved in my swimming career. I feel that when athletes have finished their sporting careers they should give back to the organisation. I thank Special Olympics S.A. and Special Olympics Australia for giving me the chance to represent my State as an athlete, team manager and a team motivator at a National Level.

My next dreams are to pass my Level 2 Coaching Accreditation and to maybe be a team manager or an assistance coach at a International level, maybe even a head coach?

So just because you have got a disability it does not mean that you can not strive for your DREAMS. So get out there and GO for those DREAMS.