SMILE Makes Dreams Come True

For many Saturday was an opportunity to learn that your dreams really can come true. SMILE on Down Syndrome hosted the first ever Making Dreams Come True event at Swonder Ice Arena in Evansville. The organization brought to town two award winning Special Olympic Skaters to perform. The afternoon event also featured local figure skaters. After the performances, those with and without disabilities hit the ice, some in wheel chairs, some on sleds, and others with buckets for some extra help. SMILE is a parent network for families with individuals with Down syndrome. The event was free for those with disabilites and their families. Below is a Letter Written by Special Olympian and Figure Skater Katie Stamper: When I was about 7 Years old my parents took me to get a test done because I wasn’t doing very well in school and I didn’t get most of the stuff I was being taught, They found out that I had a Disability called mildly mentally handicapped. I didn’t find out that I had a disability until last year in 8th grade at the Ice rink. I was told that I was going to be doing a competition on February 28th 2008 of this year for Special Olympics For my ice Skating and I was devastated especially because I didn’t hear that I had a disability from my mother I heard it from my figure skating coach Sandy Lamb. She also found out that day that I had a disability and she is in charge of special Olympics figure skating and she said I have every thing that special Olympics wants and needs so she made me do that competition this year to see if I would make it to worlds. Well last Thursday February 28th 2008 was the best experience of my life because there were over 100 people there that had a disability like me but I mostly saw people who were either moderately, severe or profound, those are also disabilities but disabilities that are worse than mine. My disability really doesn’t show. Mine only means that it takes me a little more time to get stuff and I need more help in school, and that I mature a little slower but no one can really tell that I have a disability because it’s really not that bad. I’ve been living with it my whole life and I would say that it is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me because I get so many opportunities that most children can’t get I compete for Indiana regularly and for special Olympics. Thursday was amazing though because I never really felt comfortable around people who has a disability because I never really wanted to take the time and really look at what all those other special needs children have. I saw on Thursday that really those special needs children really couldn’t do much I saw ice skaters before me and all they did was skate around for their program they couldn’t do jumps, spins, spirals anything that I could. That really made me think WOW I am so, so lucky to actually be able to walk, talk and skate. And most of them can’t do any of that. I’ve only been skating for a year and wow I can do stuff that normal people can’t who’s been skating for like 10 to 12 years. I’m a natural but I also have a disability and people look at me and just go wow she is amazing. I mean at my rink I’m a hero to everyone because I just inspire so many kids and grown ups I love it I actually feel like a normal human being. But at school They really don’t recognize you for what talents you have or what kind of person you are they really only care about how smart you are or what kind of grades you get. I don’t think that school should be that way you should try hard in school and do as best you can but school shouldn’t be all about the smartness and grades it should be about your personalities and talents you have. I don’t have as much confidence in school like I do in skating because no one really looks inside of me or anyone else to see what you can do and what strengths you have in school like they do in skating. But ever since I have started I have gained so much confidence in everything I used to always doubt myself and never stand up for myself when I got put down but now I do all of that I used to get all F’s in school because I never tried now guess what I have all A’s because I try and because I skate skating has changed my life tremendously. And I love it. And now since I found out I have a disability I could be going to worlds for special Olympics and showing Indiana what special needs children can really do, and if I go I would also be a spokes person because they think that I would be wonderful at that so I hope I get picked. Thanks. Written by: Katie Stamper