A CHANCE TO PLAY

Every child deserves the opportunity to participate. Every child deserves the chance to play. The Mat-Su School District and Special Olympics Alaska are doing their part to ensure that.

Earlier this week, more than 300 local elementary-aged students participated in the third annual Special Olympics floor hockey event at the AT&T Sports Center.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, students with special needs had the chance to take the court with their peers. There were floor hockey scrimmages. There were multiple activities that focused on different skills. But most of all, the days provided the chance to just have fun.

Students with special needs have their obstacles they face daily. But this event provides those with disabilities the ability to participate.

It doesn’t really matter whether they’re throwing a Frisbee at a balloon, pushing a floor hockey puck across a gym floor or playing in an actual game of floor hockey. The most important part is they’re out there having fun.

Something as simple as just interacting with their peers is considered a success.

It’s important for all with special needs to feel included, feel they deserve the opportunity to participate in activities and interact with others. That’s true for people with disabilities of any age. But I think it’s especially important at this age.

Events such as this are teaching different lessons to different people. For those with disabilities, it shows there is potential to participate in activities of some fashion throughout their life.

For those without disabilities, this teaches, regardless of whatever obstacle one may face, every person deserves opportunity.

A dedicated group that includes Chris Stewart, an adapted physical education teacher within the Mat-Su School District, and the Special Olympics Alaska staff helped put together this event with the help of a loyal set of parents and volunteers.

This event may last just a couple of hours during a couple of days during the middle of the week, but this short window of time helps open the door to possibility. The simple activities of the event — such as throwing the Frisbee, pushing the puck or scooting across the floor on a four-wheeled dolly — help build a foundation so these students can have fun and success in the future.

The event shows students that regardless of disability, there could be a future in activities and athletics with the help of groups such as Special Olympics Alaska, which now offers a long list of sports ranging from gymnastics to skiing to floor hockey.

Today and Saturday, Special Olympics Alaska is part of the Palmer Invitational and Palmer Relays track and field meet at Palmer High School. Special Olympic athletes will compete in events such as the shot put, long jump and 100-meter dash. Palmer High School has worked to ensure that Special Olympics Alaska stays a part of its annual track events.

Perhaps in the years ahead some of these students who participated in the Special Olympics floor hockey event will compete in the Palmer Relays. And if they do, maybe they’ll look back and remember the time they got to go to the AT&T Sports Center, throw a Frisbee at a balloon, push a floor hockey puck across the floor, scoot around the gym on a four-wheeled dolly and just have fun.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.