Message Board

The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE), a newly-formed collaborative of leading disability organizations is sponsoring the "What can YOU do?" online video contest to promote the talent and skills that people with disabilities bring to America's workforce and economy.

The contest is an opportunity for young - and young-at-heart - filmmakers to promote positive change by illustrating that at work, it’s what people CAN do that matters. The Campaign is looking for creative, fun, compelling video public service announcements, of all genres, that will create positive images of people with disabilities at work and help viewers re-think their assumptions about people with disabilities and employment.

The contest is being held as part of the Campaign for Disability Employment’s soon-to-be-launched national initiative to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The Campaign is a collaborative effort between Special Olympics, the American Association of People with Disabilities,the National Business and Disability Council,the U.S. Business Leadership Network and the Job Accommodation Network. It is funded under a contract from the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Every day, people with disabilities can and do add value to America’s workplaces and economy. However, in good times and bad, people with disabilities have fewer job opportunities than the general population. The Campaign for Disability Employment aims to confront this disparity.

Contest entries must be 60 seconds or less and reflect one or more of the campaign’s key themes. The winner will receive a prize worth $1,500. Several selected videos may also be showcased on the campaign’s Web site.

Videos must be 60 seconds or less and reflect one or more of the campaign's key themes, which are outlined on the contest Web site, www.jan.wvu.edu/videocontest. Individual and group entries are encouraged. Applicants must be U.S. citizens to enter.

Check out the Special Olympics Wisconsin June Newsletter for the latest information. http://www.specialolympicswisconsin.org/e/0609.html

Stories include:

• State Summer Games celebrates 30 years in Stevens Point
• Law Enforcement Torch Run brings Flame of Hope™ to Opening Ceremony
• Announcing this year's volunteer recognition award winners
• Donald Driver Charity Softball Game raises $12,500 for Special Olympics
• And more!

This position has been filled

This position has been filled.

Madison – And the crowd goes wild as 2,000 athletes put on their uniforms, lace up their sneakers and meet once again for an “ESPN” themed weekend of swimming, track & field, power lifting, soccer and AJ Hawk for the 2009 Special Olympics State Summer Games.

Be a fan, bring a chair, and find your spot along Colman Track to see Green Bay Packer linebacker AJ Hawk at the Opening Ceremonies on Thursday, June 4 starting at 6:30 p.m. This year the Ceremony will begin with a full athlete parade, featuring the 2,000 athletes competing at Summer Games.  The ceremony will feature Special Olympics spokesperson AJ Hawk ON STAGE, in addition to the authors of the recent “Letters to Brett Favre” book, the Klements Milwaukee Brewers Racing Sausages racing around the track, along with a stadium-size jumbotron to showcase the evening’s festivities, also featuring Special Olympics’ own version of the ESPN favorite show “Pardon the Interruption.”   

You can also contribute to the games by adopting an athlete for Special Olympics Wisconsin’s 30th Anniversary!  To adopt an athlete for $30.00 visit SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org and receive your own adoption certificate.  Special Olympics hopes all of the participating athletes will be adopted this year.  

Competition will take place at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Friday, June 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, June 6 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Approximately 300 volunteers are still needed to assist with various tasks including athlete escorting, award presentations, event timing and food services. All volunteers receive a free t-shirt. For more information on volunteering, call (800) 552-1324 ext. 208.

When not competing, athletes will enjoy the games and entertainment at Victory Village, including arts and crafts, karaoke, a dunk tank, Klement’s Racing Sausages autograph session, stage performances and many other attractions. Several of Special Olympics Wisconsin’s Corporate Partners will have booths set up in Victory Village to showcase their involvement with Special Olympics and provide free food and souvenirs. The Closing Ceremony will feature the theme of “2009 Space Odyssey” so alien sightings may be seen around Stevens Point’s campus!

Athletes will receive free on-site health care screenings at Wal-Mart Healthy Athletes tents.  Volunteer dentists provided by Delta Dental will offer dental screenings and mouth guards for the athletes.  Lions Club International sponsors Opening Eyes and will provide ophthalmologists and optometrists for athlete eye screenings. The Health Promotions area, will offer education on nutrition, smoking cessation and other great health tips for athletes.  This area will also host nurses, doctors and dietitians to take athletes’ blood pressure, bone density, and height and weight.     

Thanks to Kwik Trip and the Law Enforcement Torch Run, the Mission Partners of the organization. Special Olympics Wisconsin holds more than 75 competitions and five state tournaments per year, providing year-round training and competition opportunities through 18 different Olympic-type sports for nearly 10,000 individuals with cognitive disabilities. For more information, visit http://www.SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org or call (800) 552-1324.