AFT sponsors athletes to Special Olympics World Games 

AFT executive vice president Antonia Cortese told athletes heading to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai that their actions at the games would help teach the world how much people with intellectual disabilities can accomplish.

"The AFT is proud to be supporting your efforts, because not only is this an opportunity for you to compete with your peers, but the World Summer Games are a giant classroom where you can teach the world the Special Olympics' message of acceptance and inclusion," Cortese said at the send-off event for Team USA on Sept. 26 in Los Angeles.
The AFT was among a number of organizations sponsoring the athletes. The union also is involved in shaping and promoting the SO Get Into It K-12 service-learning resource to help teachers explain intellectual disability to young people and encourage them to become involved in the Special Olympics movement.

"Through our collaboration with the AFT, educators at all levels—grade school, middle school, high school—are serving as important role models to eliminate stereotypes and change views about the capabilities and gifts of people with intellectual disabilities," says Special Olympics chairman Timothy Shriver.

AFT members are encouraged to support Special Olympics by serving as a volunteer, making a donation or using the SO Get Into It curriculum, which is available at www.specialolympics.org under "Schools & Youth."