Special Olympics pays off in smiles, tears

Tera Sylvester will celebrate her second anniversary as director of the Charlotte County Special Olympics in July. She came to her profession influenced by disabled family members, including a sister-in-law with MS (multiple sclerosis).

She worked part time as a coordinator at the Center for Independent Living of Southwest Florida, a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities to become more independent, then joined the Special Olympics as sports director, coaching softball and five other sports. When the county director position came open, she was ready.

Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition to children and adults 8 years of age and older, and Sylvester said she is working on establishing a program from young athletes from 2 through 7. Currently, there are 150 athletes involved throughout Charlotte County.

Events take place at various recreation centers, parks and other venues. Bowling, one of the most popular events, is held at Bowland and Treasure Lanes in Port Charlotte starting in August. Sylvester said 110 athletes competed in bowling last year.

There is no charge for the athletes to compete, and Special Olympics provides housing and meals for athletes, coaches and chaperones for the state competitions in Orlando in May.

“We had 20 athletes go to Orlando last month,” Sylvester said, “which is the most we’ve ever had in state competition, and most were going to state for the first time.”

Bocce ball, cycling, track and field, soccer and tennis take place in Orlando in May. State basketball competitions are held in Leesburg in February, golf at Orlando in September, swimming at Sebastian in October, power lifting at Orlando in November and bowling at Orlando in December.

The state tournaments follow county and southwestern regional events in August, the latter involving Charlotte and six other counties: Collier, DeSoto, Henry, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota. This illustrates that while Special Olympics rewards participation, athletes are challenged to reach higher and excel under unfamiliar conditions. They also put on quite a show.

“There’s no charge for attending any of our events,” Sylvester said. “We encourage people to come out and cheer on our athletes. They love it.”

Athletes are also invited to participate in Athlete Leadership and Healthy Athletes programs. Volunteer doctors and nurses provide free vision and hearing screenings and refer athletes to providers for glasses, hearing aids, etc., as needed. Special Olympics volunteer sports director Tammy Dobbs instructs the athletes on proper nutrition, while her husband, Ken, works with the athletes as a certified trainer

Most Special Olympics sports have “unified partners” who work with individual athletes. Sylvester is a bowling partner along with her husband, James, and 8-year-old son Connor. “He and his partner became friends,” Sylvester said of Connor, “so it’s a really a family affair in our household.”

It’s also a lot of work, but work Sylvester welcomes.

“I love what I do and love working with people who happen to have intellectual and developmental disabilities,” she said.

Sylvester is the only paid staff member with the Special Olympics. Everyone else, from coaches to management, are volunteers. Community and business leaders chair various committees.

Despite her salary, Sylvester said, “This is the only job where you really get paid with smiles.”

The smiles come from the athletes when they complete events and receive competition ribbons, from their parents and families, and from those who come out to watch something really “special.” And sometimes, the smiles are laced with tears.

“I’ve seen parents crying when their son or daughter participates for the first time,” Sylvester said.

Emotional bonds are also created between the athletes and their coaches and friendships are established among the athletes themselves. “It’s rewarding to see them with their peers, associating on and off the field,” Sylvester said.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Special Olympics relies on donations and sponsorships for funding. To donate or get more information, call Sylvester at 941-545-4601. For a full listing of upcoming events, visit http://specialolympicsflorida.org/charlotte/sports.

Comments and suggestions are welcome. Call Dan Mearns at 941-893-9692 or email danmearns@gmail.com.