A Study of Mothers of Intellectually Disabled Children Participating in Special Olympics

Intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in the adaptive behavior. It is a condition in which social, practical and adaptive skills are affected. Special Olympics empower athletes with intellectual disabilities and also provide them with the opportunities to learn skills that go beyond the play grounds. Special Olympics deliver opportunities for competition in a variety of sports throughout the year. The paper outlines the level and events of participation. The social and physical changes in the children with intellectual disability due to participation in Special Olympics and the problems faced by the mothers due to the participation of their children Out of the total twenty seven mothers, all the twenty one mothers whose children participated in Special Olympics were selected. Around 77.77% of the children with intellectual disability participated in Special Olympics. Majority (85.71%) of them participated at state level Olympics. More than half (52.38%) of the children participated in athletics whereas 28.57% participated in Bocce. Improvement in the self esteem and wider friends circle of their child with disability due to participation in Special Olympics were observed by 23.80% each, of the mothers of children with intellectual disability. Around 28.57% each of the mothers saw physical changes such as enhancement in daily exercise and improvement of health in their children with disability. Some of the mothers also shared the problems faced by them. More than 42.85% of the mothers felt they were not able to give enough quality time to the siblings of the child with intellectual disability.