Barbara’s Story 

Since childhood, I have always enjoyed participating in and watching sports. In 1969, to the surprise of many, the New York Mets became World Series champions. “Amazing” and “Miracle” were words that were and still are associated with that special team. I remember running home after school with a group of classmates to watch the game with my mom (dad was a Yankees fan). Between innings, the group would run to the next closest house to catch the following inning with their family members. This continued until the last classmate made it to their home. I learned a few lessons that year - sport creates community, connects families, and brings out a range of emotions including joy & pride. 

When I went to college, I knew that I would become a Physical Education teacher and coach so that I could help others achieve community, connection, joy, and pride. While at SUNY Brockport, I volunteered in a program where college students were matched up with adults who were disabled. Each week the students and their partners would participate together in sport activities on our campus. After just one semester, I was hooked! Just like the “Miracle Mets”, individuals of all abilities deserve the opportunity to receive the benefits of sport. I then signed up for an Adapted Physical Education class and took additional classes for a minor in Special Education. Brockport offered a Master’s program in Adapted Physical Education which I completed in 1980. 

I first became involved in Special Olympics in 1978 when a friend asked me to coach her school’s Gymnastics team. Years later at a softball tournament, I remember our team cheering wildly when Gabe fouled off a ball. Many onlookers were curious as to why we cheered for a foul ball. When I explained that it was the first time that Gabe ever contacted a ball with his bat, they joined us in our celebration of Gabe. 

Although some folks may think that Special Olympians are limited, I like to say that we (the coaches and volunteers) are the ones who are limited. We need to constantly challenge ourselves to find ways for our athletes to successfully participate in sports - whether it’s making contact with a ball, moving with support, or being in a gym with other people. 

Little did I know that I would still be a Special Olympics volunteer 47 years later. Since the beginning as a coach back in the 70s, I was the lead volunteer for Volleyball at the 1979 International Games (now known as World Games) which was hosted by my university. In 1981, I moved to Texas where I continued volunteering as a coach, Games Management Team member, sport event director, trainer for coaches, member of various state and local committees, Houston mega-city grant coordinator, and Texas’s Sport Director for MATP (Motor Activities Training Program). 

In March 2020, I was asked by Renee Klovenski (Special Olympics Texas Executive Director Quality Assurance) to consider updating MATP. Seeing that we were under COVID restrictions, I had plenty of time on my hands. Over the next year, FUNdamental Sports was created. MATP is still at the heart of FUNdamental Sports, but we now focus on skill modifications for traditional Special Olympics sports offered by SOTX. At our first state-wide event, which was held in February 2022, we had 5 athletes and 1 Unified Partner participate in Bowling, Floorball, Powerlifting, and Volleyball. Since that time, we have served hundreds of athletes at 10 additional state-wide competitions and 

numerous local events. Besides the four sports offered at the first competition, Special Olympians and their Unified Partners are now able to participate in Basketball, Cycling, Gymnastics, Soccer, Tennis, Track & Field, Cheerleading, Bocce, Flag Football, Golf, Softball, and Swimming. 

Through FUNdamental Sports, I have witnessed: 

• a dad go from saying, “I don’t know why I’m here, my daughter doesn’t do anything”; to actively playing with her in a Floorball game; 

• the first time siblings played catch with their sister who threw the ball with the help of a switch device; 

• community members with tears in their eyes stating, “we had no idea this was possible”, while watching our athletes participate in sport. 

Barabara’s Top Tips for Youth Sport Coaches: