A Global Messenger for the Special Olympics of Virginia Shares Her Story

By -

One of our clients recently presented a speech at John Rolfe Middle School as a Global Messenger for the Special Olympics of Virginia.  In her speech, she speaks to her the challenges that she’s faced and her passion to overcome them.  We couldn’t think of a better way to represent her than through her own words!


"Hi!! my name is Emily Bower.  I want to thank you for having me speak here for team excel at John Rolfe middle school. Today, I want to convey my message of how I got involved with Special Olympics Virginia, why I wanted to become a global messenger, and what the campaign to end the r-word means to me. 

While I was an intern at TechAccess, 5 years ago I met my current work coach, Pam Russell, through the choice group. It was through her that I got the opportunity to interview for a position as an office assitant at Special Olympics Virginia or, what we commonly call SOVA. Guess who got the job?!  At the time, I didn't know much about Special Olympics except that they play sports. Did you know that Special Olympics is a worldwide organization of 4 and 1/2 million athletes, and over 21 thousand of those athletes participate in Virginia? Sometimes people ask me “when is the Special Olympics held?” well, I usually answer by telling them that special Olympics is year round. The fact is, events within the state, are held throughout the year. There are 2,500 events held in Virginia alone!! to me, this is pretty amazing!  
While I was working at SOVA during my fourth year, I was  given the opportunity to interview for a position as a global messenger. again, guess who got the job?  I was excited about this! Two big reasons why I wanted to become a global messenger were 1. to help spread the word about all the greats things that Special Olympics does and 2. I wanted to tell my own personal story. Just to fill you in on a little of that story; in school, I was constantly bullied. I may not have been called the derogatory word “retard”, but I do know what it’s like to be called names that are mean, and hurtful. I think the biggest challenge for me, other than being bullied, was not knowing how to speak up about how these names affected me. The same applied for hearing others being called the r-word. 

Many people don’t realize the effect that their words have on others. Words like that are extremely hurtful, and can really damage a person’s self-esteem. And, in addition, people who use the r-word could be seen as uncaring, lacking feeling, and a bully!! Who wants to be seen that way?? that’s why I'm speaking with you, today. 

Remember, knowledge is power! 

I ended up leaving the public school system in the middle of the 6th grade. My parents and many doctors could see something was not right. Not long after that, I learned that I had an anxiety disorder. That was a really tough year for me! By the middle of that year, I was transferred to Northstar Academy. Northstar is a small private school for people who have learning disabilities. I really liked Northstar because it was a smaller setting and the teachers helped the students, individually. There was also a common respect among the students for each other. 

After I graduated in 2005, I went through a 13th year at Douglas Southall Freeman High School. Being back in the public school system was a lot easier than when I was in the 6th grade! I graduated from Freeman and later, attended J. Sargent Reynolds for a year.  I took classes that I was interested in like History, English, and Psychology. The college experience wasn't something I wanted to continue long term, and decided I wanted to pursue a job, instead. When I started working at SOVA as an office assistant, I instantly made so many new friends! As I participated in various events, I found my voice! and through my voice I want to help people understand why the r-word campaign is so important. I personally know the damage that labels can do in decreasing a person's self-worth. We must all realize that banning the R word permanently will help, not just athletes on the playing field, but all of us! We all become more compassionate for one another!! 

I am thankful to SOVA, as it has given me the opportunity to highlight my abilities and overcome challenges. These challenges have allowed me to grow and to meet so many wonderful people. Especially, people like you!!!! And by the way, you can also be involved with SOVA! There are so many opportunities for this and you won’t regret it!!! 

Despite any challenges a person may have, we all have our inner beacon of light 
that is meant to be shared with others.  Share your light by making a pledge to ban the r-word. You can do this by going to www.r-word.org and make your pledge. Let's make the new r-word be respect! Thank you once more for inviting me to speak. I hope by hearing me today you may want to become involved in Special Olympics as I am. My name is Emily Bower and I am a fan of special 
Olympics and the r-word campaign, forever!! "

Location: Richmond, VA, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts!

A Brother and Sister Team Find Independence with Supported Employment

By -
Image
Crystal and Steven MacArthur are the typical brother and sister: they enjoy watching football with their mom, attending their church, and spending time with their family, dog, and friends.  Despite some sibling eye-rolling, they look out for each other.  They also enjoy working.  When looking for part-time positions, they wanted an employer where they could stay long-term.  Crystal became a dishwasher for a staffing company at a Virginia university.  She initially worked in the Annex, a smaller cafeteria off campus.  She hand-washed dishes and eventually learned to use the automatic machine.  Because Crystal has a visual impairment, Crystal’s co-workers always looked out for her, letting her know when the floor was wet or if there were crates that might get in her way.  She became part of the team, discussing sports games and weekend plans while keeping up with the breakfast and lunch rush.  When the Annex closed and Crystal faced moving to the larger cafeteria on campus, she wa
Read more

Michael Powell: One Client’s Compassion in Action

By -
Image
In the normally calm aisles of Harris Teeter, where everyday tasks often revolve around groceries and daily routines, one employee stood out recently for his extraordinary act of compassion and quick thinking. Meet Michael Powell, a familiar face at the Hanbury Road Harris Teeter in Chesapeake, whose passion for helping others extends beyond the supermarket shelves. Michael, a seven-year veteran of The Choice Group, brings a unique blend of dedication and community spirit to both his work at Harris Teeter and his personal pursuits. When he's not bagging groceries, collecting shopping carts, or delivering groceries to customers' vehicles, you might find him engaged in a strategic card game with friends or lending a hand at the Hickory Trading Company coffee shop. When news broke of the disappearance of 82-year-old Janice Hall , who had wandered away from a dental appointment, Michael's immediate response was to offer his assistance. Without hesitation, Michael began searchin
Read more

2 billion people will need this tech by 2050: Injured vet shares the good and bad

By -
Image
Phil Swinford's house is full of tech that helps him live more independently, but he's betting it's also going to help him to walk again. (Phil Swinford plays music on his phone.Megan Wollerton/CNET) " OK Google , text Pamela ICE [in case of emergency]," says retired US Army Col. Phil Swinford from his home in the Virginia suburbs, roughly an hour's drive from Washington, DC. He's using Google Assistant on his Android phone to talk to his wife, Pam, who's working today at her consignment shop, the Copper Cricket, a few miles away. I'm listening in, which feels a little too invasive, but it's OK: This text is just for demo purposes. "Sure," Google's AI responds. "What's the message?" "Hey, babe. I love you," Phil says clearly and deliberately into his phone. "I got, 'Hey, babe. I love you,'" it speaks back to him. "Do you wanna send it or change it?" "Send i
Read more

Breaking Barriers in the Hospitality Industry

By -
Image
  Our Vocational counselor, Debby Henry, works in our Northwest area and is proud to have Alexander Marschall as a client. Debby and Alex embarked on their journey together in January of 2023, when Alex began working with his current employer. “Alex is outgoing and personable, he has such a charming personality!” said Debby. He is always willing to learn new tasks and different applications to accommodate some of his disabilities. It was evident to her that Alex's outgoing nature and adaptability would make him an excellent fit with his co-workers. So, they completed situational assessments to determine the ideal jobs for him to pursue. They focused on interview skills with DARS Placement Counselors to arm Alex with the confidence he would need to take on his first job with confidence, starting with the interview process. Since the beginning of the year, Alex has been working as a restaurant host. He welcomes customers, finds available tables to seat customers, provides menus, and
Read more