Federal government may cut funding for the Special Olympics

Aidan Houser, a Special Olympian, is currently one of the cheerleaders rooting on all his buddies on the Estero High School Special Olympics basketball team.

“Special Olympics is one of my favorite things to do it help me make new friends,” Aidan said.

“He’s done bowling soccer,” said Mindy Roy, his mother, “along with obstacle courses work.”

Roy told WINK News Special Olympics has played a crucial roll in helping Aidan, 17, develop critical social skills. She also loves how physically active he has become.

“I feel like a typical child and that’s a great feeling are these kids they see sports they see their classmates typical kids playing baseball and football and this gives them the opportunity to have that in common,” Mindy said.

The Special Olympics just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Hundreds of kids locally, with five million nationwide, participate in the Special Olympics each year.

It breaks Mindy’s heart to hear the federal government wants to cut all funding, which comes to nearly $18 million. The cuts would leave the Special Olympics to find new money to keep going.

Mindy hopes many people speak out against the funding cut and keep the Special Olympics strong for years to come.

“Makes me worry about the future of some of these kids because the Special Olympics program allows them to do activities that they may not be able to do out of normal settings,” Mindy said.