Brian McCabe/Medill News
A group of students from Woodson School participate in the opening ceremony of the Illinois Special Olympics.
The opening ceremony for the 40th Illinois Special Olympics was held yesterday at Soldier Field. Along with the participants and volunteers, two students from my school, reporters with the Medill News Service, attended the event. Check out their story for coverage of the volunteers that help make the event so special.
The Illinois Special Olympics Web site has all the information about the 21,000 participants and events that will occur across the state, but there is an interesting story on the site about a young man with autism and verbal dysproxia. Tommy Shimoda competes in the gymnastics events, but is unable to communicate with his voice. Instead, he uses a machine called a VOCA (voice output communication aid) to express himself.
Another example of technology enhancing the lives of people with handicaps and disabilities!
Click after the jump for more pictures from the opening ceremony.
