I remember during the recent games in May, we were heading off to the starting line for the 100 yard dash activity that was open to everyone, but this girl in my group was not able to participate because she had a metal plate inserted into her spine. So our duty as group leaders is to make sure that no athlete is pushed across their disability limitations, and to make sure that all athletes are safe throughout the games.
Another member from De Anza College CKI recalls a sweet memory about the Special Games. One time she was shopping around a mall, when a girl in a wheel chair comes up to her and points at something. It was a Special Games ribbon that was handed to all the participants during the games. It turns out that the little girl remembered the CKI member as her group leader during a past Special Games.
As you can tell, the Special Games is a very important event that children with special needs look forward to participate in every year. Some parents even explain it as one of the days that their child countdowns to every year, alongside with their birthday of course!
- Kenneth Olidan
Circle K International
CAL-NEV-HA District
Sunset Division
De Anza College CKI
Kiwanis Family Chair: 2013 - 2014
Service Vice President: March 2013 – December 2013
President: December 2013- Present
The Kiwanis Special Games were created to address the physical and emotional needs of the substantial number of extremely challenged children in the schools of our region. More broadly known programs like the Special Olympics presume a much higher level of function. The Special Games exclude no one. The Games were first organized in 1979 by two Adaptive PE teachers and Los Altos Kiwanian Walter Chronert. Under Walt’s leadership, spanning more then 25 years, the Games flourished from modest beginnings involving just the Los Altos Kiwanis Club to the regional event they are today.