My name is David Thompson. I am 19-years-old and I have an intellectual disability. Special Olympics changed my life.
Before I joined Special Olympics, I never wanted to be active and I didn’t have friends. I was bullied a lot by my peers.
Special Olympics got me involved in sports and being active and healthy. I work out almost every day now. I play sports all year-long, and I have lots of friends. I feel good about myself.
I helped get Project UNIFY in to my high school so I can help my peers understand how it makes people like me feel when they get bullied. It does not feel good and we don’t deserve it. We can do anything. We just do it differently. I have talked at my school and other schools about the importance of treating everyone with respect. We all deserve that.
I am so thankful to have Special Olympics. It has changed my life forever.